Jul 18, 2013 2 min read

A West Virginia man faces charges including aggravated assault after he reportedly hit a Hanover Township police officer with his vehicle while entering First Niagara Pavilion for Tuesday’s Lil Wayne concert.

John Patrick Lowther, 28, of New Cumberland, is accused of hitting Officer James Hildreth with his sport utility vehicle.

Hildreth had been standing in the center of the intersection between the northbound and southbound lanes. Another officer had traffic stopped in the northbound lanes. He had his back turned to Hildreth when he heard a thump. The officer turned and saw Hildreth slide on the road across the southbound lanes.

Lowther told police that he was traveling in the outbound fire lane. He said an officer stopped his vehicle to let southbound Route 18 traffic into the pavilion. Lowther claimed the officer told him to go and as he accelerated, Hildreth crossed in front of his vehicle. Lowther stopped his vehicle in the center of the intersection.

When Lowther was patted down, police found a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana.

Hildreth was taken to UPMC, Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh, and kept overnight as a precaution, said Hanover Township police Chief Jim Lauria.

Lowther waived his rights. Charges of aggravated assault, reckless driving, obedience to authorized person directing traffic and possessing a small amount of marijuana will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Gary Havelka.

At First Niagara on Wednesday, state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement cited 47 adults and seven juveniles with underage drinking before and during the Vans Warped Tour concert.