SHAMOKIN - A 51-year-old Dewart Street resident described as a "nuisance neighbor" is in Northumberland County Prison after allegedly stalking and grabbing a woman by the breast, assaulting two police officers and cursing a magisterial district judge at his arraignment.
Frank M. Bogus, of 145 E. Dewart St., was charged by Cpl. Bryan Primerano with aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person, criminal trespass and two counts of stalking relating to a disturbance at his apartment building that began at 7:45 p.m. Saturday.
At his 12:30 a.m. Sunday arraignment, Bogus cursed on-call Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum of Sunbury for committing him to the county jail in lieu of $75,000 cash bail. The disturbance at the judge's office required assistance from Point Township police.
According to a criminal complaint, police were dispatched for a disturbance at Bogus' top-floor apartment, where they found the defendant intoxicated. Upon arrival at the scene, police were informed by neighbors that Bogus had repeatedly harassed Rita Lesher, 54, who resides in a bottom apartment at 145 E. Dewart St.
Primerano, who said the neighbors described Bogus as a "neighborhood nuisance," said Lesher informed him that Bogus had just entered her apartment without her permission and refused to leave despite being told to do so several times.
Lesher said she attempted to use force to remove Bogus from her apartment, but was still unable to get him to leave. She said at one point Bogus grabbed her breast and twisted it, causing serious pain. Bogus also is accused of grabbing Lesher's hair so hard she thought he was going to pull it out of her head.
Lesher told police Bogus has continually stalked her. She accused Bogus of pounding on her door demanding entry, shining lights in her residence at late hours, looking in her window and threatening to have a girl beat her up.
After Bogus walked down to the front porch of the apartment building, Primerano advised him that he was being arrested and attempted to handcuff him. But Bogus resisted and pulled away from Primerano and Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn, who was summoned for assistance.
Bogus repeatedly fought off attempts by police to place him into custody and was forced to the ground at one point. While holding onto the front porch, Bogus continued to pull away from police as they attempted to handcuff him.
After repeatedly being warned by police to stop resisting arrest, Primerano used a Taser to stun Bogus, but the defendant still refused to submit. A concerned neighbor then assisted Primerano and Wynn in finally subduing Bogus, but not before the defendant scratched Primerano on the right arm and caused injury to Wynn's arm.
Both officers and Bogus almost fell off the front porch of the apartment building during the five-minute struggle.
Primerano said Bogus has an extensive criminal record. He was sentenced Nov. 24, 2008, to serve 15 to 30 months in state prison for aggravated assault by a prisoner.