Angola traffic stop turns to battery to police officers

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - An Angola man is behind bars charged with battery against a public safety official from a routine traffic stop Saturday night.

Around 11:30 p.m., Aaron J. Sylvia, 40, was pulled over on County Road 275 N, near County Road 85 W, by an Indiana State Trooper for a speeding violation, state police said.

During the stop, the trooper asked for a K9 to search the vehicle for drugs. When Sylvia was asked to get out of the car, he became combative and resistant, hitting two troopers with multiple kicks and punches, a statement from state police said. Troopers tried to tase Sylvia, but it was not effective. Another trooper also engaged in a physical altercation with Sylvia. Sylvia was subdued after multiple other agency officers arrived to help.

Sylvia is in the Steuben County Jail with two felony charges of battery against a public safety official and battery against a public safety official engaged in official duty. Sylvia was also charged with resisting, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia, all misdemeanor charges.

Copyright 2022 Fort Wayne’s NBC. All rights reserved.