Image courtesy of Horsham EMS
One officer gets a bloody nose in the altercation, police said.
Multiple agencies responded to the report of an intoxicated man at the Copper Crow Restaurant. While attempting to provide him with medical care, the man became agitated and injured officers, according to reports.
On Sunday, Sept. 1, around 4:41 p.m., the Horsham Township Police Department was dispatched to the restaurant, located at 116 Welsh Road, within the township, reports said. A caller told police that the man was sitting in his vehicle, and the person was concerned he would attempt to drive, police said. The person also told police, according to reports, that the man seemed “irate” and that he “may be combative with responders.”
As other township police were responding to nearby incidents, reports stated that a Horsham police officer requested backup from Upper Moreland Police to assist. Police arrived at the scene and located the man, they said.
The man, later identified by his Pennsylvania driver’s license, Christopher R. Ferrante, 41, of the 1800 block of Roberta Ave., in Abington, was located by police sitting on a curb in the parking lot of the restaurant, reports stated. While speaking to him, police said that Ferrante had slurred speech, drooping eyelids, and flushed skin about his face, while also smelling of alcohol.
Reports stated that Ferrante would “insult officers in various ways,” and could not respond properly to questions such as “what day is it?” when asked. One officer reported that he’d witnessed Ferrante fall into a small pile of mulch near a tree, and others noted he had mulch on his shoulder of his shirt.
Officers said they asked Ferrante to submit to a portable breath test, but he refused. Unable to form coherent sentences, officers said that they were concerned Ferrante may require medical assistance for an alcohol overdose and therefore requested emergency medical services (EMS).
According to reports, Horsham EMS contacted a Jefferson Abington Hospital physician who said that, at his level of intoxication, Ferrante “could not refuse medical treatment.”
Police said, at that point, Ferrante began to request EMS and police to “check his [expletive deleted].” Reports stated that police informed the man he would be going to the hospital, but Ferrante could not walk to the stretcher alone. At that time, police said, EMS and officers grabbed him to carry him to the stretcher. According to reports, Ferrante then dislodged an officer’s body-worn camera and resisted the assistance. After being placed on the stretcher, police said he continued to struggle by kicking, scratching, grabbing, and attempting to swing his arms.
During the altercation, police reports stated, Ferrante struck an officer in the face and gave him a bloody nose. Reports also said that other responders yelled for Ferrante to stop scratching them and to let them go. Ferrante was reportedly given sedatives but continued to yell and pull against restraints.
Ferrante was charged with felony grade aggravated assault, by attempting to cause bodily harm to a designated individual, as well as charges of simple assault, harassment, and public drunkenness. He was released via unsecured bond signature following a preliminary arraignment on Sept. 20. He is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing on Nov. 19 before Magisterial District Judge Todd Stephens at 11:45 a.m.
