Jefferson man charged with kicking trooper

A Jefferson man is accused of assaulting a state police trooper Sunday afternoon, moments after crashing into a parked car near the Jefferson Hotel.
Police said Thomas J. Tewell, 52, of 1336 Jefferson Road, was drunk and seen “stumbling” from his SUV after crashing into the parked car along Grogg Alley about 3:30 p.m.
Tewell became “combative” when Trooper James Hanning asked for a driver’s license and vehicle registration, according to court documents, before trying to get back into his SUV to drive away.
Investigators said Tewell was handcuffed, but then kicked Hanning in the neck area as he was being placed into the back of a police cruiser. After being seated in the cruiser, Tewell then struck his head repeatedly against the car door and a protective cage, police said.
Charles Dean, of Jefferson, told police he watched Tewell crash into his parked car near the bar, causing damage to his vehicle’s left side bumper. Police said Dean also witnessed Tewell kick the trooper and strike his head while sitting alone in the police car.
Tewell was taken to WHS-Greene hospital for treatment and to be tested for his blood-alcohol content, although he refused to submit a blood sample to authorities, police said.
He faces charges of aggravated assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, obstruction of justice, simple assault, resisting arrest, harassment, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Police said Tewell also was driving on a suspended license and had no registration for the SUV.
District Judge Glenn Bates arraigned Tewell and he was taken to the Greene County jail on $30,000 cash bond. His preliminary hearing before Bates is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 12 at 10:45 a.m.
The trooper was not seriously injured.