Watch CBS News

Man Tased Twice, Given Sedative During Arrest

PENN BOROUGH (KDKA) - A Westmoreland County man is in jail Thursday afternoon after a domestic disturbance at his home.

Police say the man resisted arrest and had to be tased twice and given a sedative to calm down.

When police arrived at the suspect's home, they say they could hear him yelling and screaming, threatening to kill his wife, before they went inside.

George Bernhardy is in the Westmoreland County Jail after police say his wife called 911 Tuesday night, fearing for her life. Officers went to the home and found the 52-year-old intoxicated and disorderly. Police say he was throwing furniture, bags of dog food and other items inside his home on Scott Street. At times, police say he said he was Ben Franklin.

"He did at times refer to himself as Ben Franklin, yes," said Officer Eric Colamarino, of the Penn Boro Police Department.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

Officers say Bernardy used his 6-feet, 4-inch body, weighing 240 lbs., to smash the windshield of a truck parked on Scott Street near his home and when put inside a police cruiser, he damaged it as well.

"He had cracked a window in the police vehicle, he bent out the door frame... he caused some significant damage, by kicking out the windows," Colamarino said.

It took four officers to restrain Bernhardy. They used a taser device twice, which had little effect in calming him down.

"He did have little to no response to the taser," Colamarino said. "He was a lot to handle, like I said he was a very large man and it did take a few officers to get him in the vehicle and once he was in the vehicle, he was very uncooperative."

Paramedics arrived and gave Bernardy a sedative. He was taken to the hospital, before he was taken to the Westmoreland County Jail. Bernardy faces charges of making terroristic threats, resisting arrest and simple assault. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.