Norristown man faces prison for assaulting police officer

NORRISTOWN — A Norristown man who assaulted a borough police officer as he struggled with police during a traffic stop will spend up to five years in prison.

Carl E. Johnson Jr., 54, of the 200 block of Buttonwood Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 2½ to 5 years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault of a police officer in the performance of duty and driving under suspension in connection with a May 2021 scuffle with police during a traffic stop on Barbadoes Street.

Judge Thomas M. DelRicci also ordered Johnson to complete two years’ probation following parole, meaning Johnson will be under court supervision for a total of seven years.

The investigation began about 12:50 a.m. May 9, 2021, when a Norristown police officer was in the area of George and West Main streets and observed two vehicles that appeared to be racing and traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on West Main Street, according to the criminal complaint.

One of the vehicles, a Cadillac sedan operated by Johnson, traveled into the oncoming traffic lane while passing multiple vehicles and crossing the double yellow lines, according to the arrest affidavit.

The officer activated police lights and siren and the Cadillac stopped on Barbadoes Street and Johnson exited the vehicle, court papers alleged.

Johnson allegedly ignored an officer’s commands that he get back in his vehicle, “refused to listen and moved back towards the rear of his vehicle,” according to the arrest affidavit. The officer then ordered Johnson to move to the back of the vehicle and away from all doors and Johnson again refused, leading the officer to be unsure why Johnson was refusing to listen to commands or if there were other occupants in the vehicle.

The officer then attempted to grab Johnson’s right arm to move him behind the vehicle and Johnson pulled away and then swung at the officer with his right arm, according to the criminal complaint.

The officer pulled Johnson to the ground behind the vehicle and attempted to gain control of Johnson’s arms while Johnson continued to resist, court papers indicate. The officer radioed for assistance from other officers.

During the struggle, Johnson struck the officer twice in the face and grabbed the officer’s throat to the point the officer felt substantial pressure on his neck, obstructing his airway, according to the arrest affidavit. The officer, according to court papers, punched Johnson multiple times in the face to disrupt Johnson from choking him, police said.

When other officers arrived on the scene Johnson continued to resist arrest but officers eventually were able to get control of Johnson and he was placed into custody.

Authorities said they found a bag containing marijuana in Johnson’s pants pocket. Police added Johnson displayed glassy eyes and was slurring his words and appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance.

As he was transported to the police station, Johnson allegedly stated he could have taken the officer’s gun and killed him and that he would “break every bone” in the officer’s face, according to court documents.

The officer involved in the initial struggle suffered minor bruising to his knee and lacerations on his hand, according to the criminal complaint.

A search of the Cadillac uncovered two bags containing marijuana in the center console, police said.

Other charges of simple assault, possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, terroristic threats and strangulation were dismissed against Johnson.

Assistant District Attorney Gwendolyn Kull prosecuted the case. Defense lawyer George Griffith Jr. represented Johnson.