Headlock on Cop Gets Man Tasered

This post was written and reported by Jack Tobias

A Taser was used to subdue a South Bethlehem man who tried to put a cop into a headlock when police responded to reports of a domestic assault at his home, court records say.

• When Hoffman arrived at the Fiot Avenue address around 11:10 Tuesday night, McHale’s girlfriend was sitting outside. She said McHale, with whom she lives, was inside. She also said McHale had yelled at her and threw a television remote at her while they argued in a bedroom. The device hit her in the ribs.
• The girlfriend said McHale took her keys and phone. She told him to leave and he refused. McHale grabbed her by the arms and squeezed until she was in pain. She then “delivered [a] knee strike to his groin.” He released her and punched her left arm.
• While Hoffman talked to the girlfriend, McHale approached the front door. Hoffman identified himself and asked McHale to step back. The woman allowed the officer to enter the house.
• While the officer and McHale were in a first-floor hallway, McHale took a step toward the officer with his hands raised and “entered into an aggressive fighting stance.” Hoffman ordered him to lower his hands and back off but he refused. 
• Hoffman tried to gain control over McHale’s right wrist so he could handcuff him but McHale managed to turn around and grab the officer’s arms. “He swung at my head with his arms and pulled me in toward his body while grabbing and pulling at my face and arms,” Hoffman said.
• Then came Hoffman’s struggle to radio for help and the officers’ eventual decision to use a Taser on McHale.