A Quakertown man detained in a Northampton County jail awaits multiple felony criminal charges following an incident in Quakertown. Melvin Cornealius Woodson Jr., 50, of Dewsbury Lane, also faces multiple felony charges from an incident later in the day in a Northampton County municipality.

            Woodson is accused of striking a police vehicle in Quakertown and fleeing officers recklessly, according to information provided by municipal authorities.

            The state police arrested him later in the day in Glendon Borough, in Northampton. He is accused of injuring a member of the Williams Township Fire Department, striking another state police cruiser, and biting a trooper after being tased twice by police attempting to take him into custody, stated the police criminal complaint filed in the Easton court of District Judge Daniel G. Corpora.

            The defendant awaits arraignment on the Quakertown charges, which include two felony counts of aggravated assault, two counts of fleeing police, three misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, and numerous other traffic violations. A warrant has also been filed.

            On Nov. 18 local authorities were dispatched to a residence on Dewsbury Lane for the report of a suspicious vehicle. The driver, identified as Woodson, fled from police after hitting a police vehicle. Other jurisdictions joined in the pursuit, which was called off due to Woodson's reckless driving and the endangering of others, explained the Quakertown police.

            At 2:21 p.m., troopers from the Belfast barracks were dispatched to a vehicle crash at the intersection of Berger and Morvale roads in Williams Township. With traffic in the westbound lane was stopped, Woodson drove his dark Ford sedan around the stopped vehicles before halting approximately 20 to 25 feet from a firefighter in the westbound lane wearing a high-visibility reflective vest.

            Woodson revved his engine and his tires squealed before his vehicle struck the firefighter and knocked him to the ground. Someone yelled, "He's coming back," and the firefighter had to roll out the way to avoid the car.

            As the vehicle fled the scene, it struck a state police car, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

            At 3:50 p.m., a Williams Township resident alerted authorities to a disabled vehicle on Morgan Hill Road near Morvale Road. A male matching Woodson's description was observed by troopers at the intersection of Morgan Hill Road and Clubhouse Drive. A trooper engaged Woodson outside the vehicle.

            After a second trooper arrived, Woodson allegedly became agitated and took an aggressive posture and lunged towards them. One of the troopers tased Woodson, who fell to the ground.

            The trooper tased Woodson a second time, and when authorities attempted to take him into custody, he bit one of the troopers several times on both hands, according to court records.

            Woodson was arraigned on the Northampton county charges on Nov. 18 by Corpora, who set bail in the case at $50,000 monetary.  A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1.