Police: Man Assaults Police Officers after Injuring Girlfriend

Ambler resident, 33-year-old Frank Melograna, Jr., faces three felony counts of aggravated assault after Whitemarsh police say he injured his girlfriend before striking a police officer last Friday night.

According to a court affidavit, Whitemarsh police were dispatched to the home of Melograna's girlfriend at approximately 10 p.m. Friday, after they received a report of a domestic disturbance. They were advised that Melograna was outside the home and likely under the influence of a narcotic.

Upon arrival, two police officers saw Melograna emerge from a space between two row homes and walk toward them in an "aggressive manor,” before throwing a set of keys at the officers, the report said. Melograna, whom police say was visibly intoxicated and behaving erratically, would not comply with the officers' commands and continuously put his arms up and down in the air, the report stated.

Police then ordered Melograna to get on the ground numerous times, but the suspect ignored their orders and continued to walk toward the officers, before finally going down on one knee, police said. One of the officers then approached the suspect and attempted to handcuff him, at which time the 5'3" Melograna sprung to his feet and punched the officer in his chest, causing him to stumble backward, the report said.

Melograna then followed up with a second fist, this time striking the officer in the side of his face, before both officers grabbed the suspect and took him to the ground, the report stated. After wrestling with the suspect for some time, the officers attempted to handcuff Melograna, at which point he nearly turned over from his stomach to his back.

Police say they then resorted to the use of a taser:

"After a taser and control tactics were utilized, we were able to gain control of Melograna and he was handcuffed," the reporting officer wrote in the affidavit.

Police then interviewed the victim and a witness who was inside the home, who both told police that Melograna and the victim began arguing inside of her home. At one point, the victim placed her hand on Melograna's face to make clear eye contact and asked Melograna to leave. At that point Melograna "snapped" and grabbed the victim by her hand, twisting her wrist back and causing pain and injury, the witnesses said.

Melograna then began to scream at the victim and threw a full soda can, nearly striking her, police reported. He then stormed out of the residence, picked up and smashed a flowerpot, and began "acting wildly… and yelling," attracting the attention of several neighbors until police arrived, the report said.

Melograna faces three counts of aggravated assault; two counts each of simple assault and disorderly conduct; and one count each of criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and public drunkenness. He was unable to post a $10,000 bail and currently awaits an Aug. 6 preliminary hearing before Judge Deborah Lukens.

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