Palmer Man Tasered in Dispute

A Palmer Township man was jailed Thursday after he allegedly kicked in his mother-in-law's door, and Tasered by township police after apparently refusing to spit out a wad of chewing tobacco.

John A. Wright, 42, of Freedom Terrace, is charged with defiant trespass, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment.

According to court papers, the incident began just after 8 p.m. Thursday when police were called to Wright's home for a domestic dispute.

Police say Wright -- who lives in a basement apartment rented from his mother-in-law -- had gotten into a dispute with the woman, who lives upstairs.
Police asked Wright to stay in his part of the house.

At 9:23 p.m., police returned to the home after Wright allegedly kicked in the door leading from the basement to the upstairs.

He then ran off into the woods.

When he returned, police tried to take him into custody. Officers asked him to comply with their demands and to spit out the tobacco he was chewing. Wright allegedly refused and kept chewing and spitting out the juice.

Eventually, officers used a Taser on him and arrested him.

He was arraigned before District Judge Gay Elwell and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.