Altoona officer’s assault hearing delayed
The hearing for an Altoona police officer accused of assaulting a fellow concertgoer at First Niagara Pavilion earlier this month had his hearing continued until next month.
Matthew Jeffery Plummer, 27, is accused of assaulting Thomas Andrews while the two were at the Hanover Township venue Sept. 7 for the ZZ Top and Kid Rock concert. Plummer was charged by Hanover police with aggravated assault.
Assistant District Attorney Josh Carroll told District Judge Gary Havelka that the continuance was for 30 days to see if the attorneys representing Plummer and Andrews can come to a resolution.
Andrews reportedly exposed his buttocks to several people, including Plummer’s wife, who was on a bus in the parking lot with her husband. Plummer reportedly heard something hit the bus.
When Plummer got off the bus, he told police that he was confronted by Andrews.
When Plummer asked Andrews what his problem was, Andrews reportedly got confrontational.
Andrews reportedly tried to hit Plummer in the face, police stated in court records. Plummer told police that he felt threatened and hit Andrews once in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Andrews, 41, of Moundsville, W.Va., spent several days being treated at UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh. He appeared for Thursday’s hearing wearing a neck brace. Police cited him with disorderly conduct for his actions at the concert.
Plummer’s attorney, Steven Passarello, said that his client is currently assigned to desk duty. He has been an Altoona police officer since 2009. Plummer remains free on $5,000 bond. The case was continued until Oct. 24.