Apr 23, 2019 2 min read

A Claysville man who police believe may have robbed two Washington County convenience stores faces charges for assaulting four state troopers.

David Frank White, 31, of 201 Highland Ave., faces four charges of aggravated assault, as well as misdemeanors for resisting arrest and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Court papers accuse White of injuring three of the four troopers who attempted to arrest him Monday morning, and breaking one of their hands.

The complaint states that while on patrol in Washington about 1:25 a.m. Monday, Troopers Marc Chieffallo and Donald Morris saw a vehicle in the parking lot of St. Hilary Catholic Church at 320 Henderson Ave.

The officers “initiated a mere encounter” and knocked on the rear window, according to the complaint.

White opened the driver’s side door, and police said they could smell marijuana and see a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana in the door.

This led the troopers to search the vehicle. According to the complaint, there were White Owl cigarillos on the dashboard, which Chieffallo knew was an item stolen during a recent robbery at the Uni-Mart in Avella.

In the trunk, there was an Oakland Raiders backpack, which matched the description of the backpack used in that robbery, according to the complaint.

Troopers Samuel Apke and Matthew Goodall were then called to the scene. Chieffallo then searched a second backpack and reported finding a firearm, a black pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt.

According to the complaint, he knew these items matched the description of not only the suspect in the Avella robbery, but also a robbery at a BP station near Claysville.

White then allegedly refused to comply with orders when police attempted to arrest him.

“White was taken to the ground and began to violently struggle,” the complaint states.

Police used “verbal commands and physical strikes” to get White to comply, according to the complaint.

Apke tased White, but he continued to fight with the troopers, police said.

The complaint states that Chieffallo suffered abrasions to his hands, arms, knees and a broken bone in his right hand. The other three troopers all had abrasions, and three had their injuries treated at Washington Hospital.

White was incarcerated in Washington County jail and was arraigned Monday morning before District Judge Robert Redlinger, who set bond at $50,000.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. May 6 before Redlinger.