Officer allegedly bit by suspect accused of harassing customers at Allegheny County Sheetz

A man is accused of biting an officer while resisting arrest for harassing customers at a Sheetz in Allegheny County. Police say they were called to a Sheetz on William Penn Highway in Wilkins Township on a report of a man in all black clothing who had a knife in his hand and was harassing customers. When officers arrived, they say they saw Renard Barton with a fixed-blade knife in his hand. The officers asked him to put the knife down, but they say he did not listen and put it in a backpack instead. According to a criminal complaint, Barton continued to ignore officers who struggled with the man over the backpack.After getting Barton to the ground, officers say he took the knife out of the bag and hit one of them multiple times. Those hits were deflected because of the vest the officer was wearing. While they were on the ground, the officer being targeted delivered several closed fist hits to Barton’s head, the complaint states. The struggle continued between the group, leading to Barton biting the officer several times, causing open, bleeding wounds.Authorities say they deployed a taser and were eventually able to get handcuffs on suspect. The suspect was taken to the hospital prior to being transported to the Allegheny County Jail. The officer who was bit took himself to a hospital for the bite wounds.

WILKINS TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

A man is accused of biting an officer while resisting arrest for harassing customers at a Sheetz in Allegheny County.

Police say they were called to a Sheetz on William Penn Highway in Wilkins Township on a report of a man in all black clothing who had a knife in his hand and was harassing customers.

When officers arrived, they say they saw Renard Barton with a fixed-blade knife in his hand. The officers asked him to put the knife down, but they say he did not listen and put it in a backpack instead.

According to a criminal complaint, Barton continued to ignore officers who struggled with the man over the backpack.

After getting Barton to the ground, officers say he took the knife out of the bag and hit one of them multiple times.

Those hits were deflected because of the vest the officer was wearing. While they were on the ground, the officer being targeted delivered several closed fist hits to Barton’s head, the complaint states.

The struggle continued between the group, leading to Barton biting the officer several times, causing open, bleeding wounds.

Authorities say they deployed a taser and were eventually able to get handcuffs on suspect.

The suspect was taken to the hospital prior to being transported to the Allegheny County Jail. The officer who was bit took himself to a hospital for the bite wounds.