A Lehighton man is facing charges for assaulting a state trooper.

State police at Lehighton said troopers conducted a traffic stop at Hazard Road and White Street in Bowmanstown of a 1995 Chrysler Newport for a motor vehicle code violation 10:45 p.m. May 28.

Donald Easterly, 56, was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and failed to provide his insurance information, and his vehicle registration card.

Easterly said he smoked marijuana just a few hours ago before operating his vehicle, and that he is a classic marijuana smoker.

Easterly refused a chemical test of his blood.

Easterly removed items from his right front pocket and then his left front pocket and had a clear glass vial with a white cap with suspected marijuana wax. Easterly violently squeezed the trooper’s hand and pulled away.

Easterly then threw the glass vial, hitting the guide rail, smashing it into pieces. Lento then attempted to gain control of Easterly and take him into custody and Easterly began actively resisting arrest.

He struck a trooper in the face and arm.

Police used a stun gun, and were eventually able to restrain him, then rendered aid and summoned EMS, which Easterly declined.

Easterly was charged with 17 counts including two felony 1 counts of aggravated assault to cause serious bodily harm; misdemeanor counts of simple assault (two counts) and one count each of resisting arrest, DUI and tamper with/fabricate physical evidence and 10 summary motor vehicle code violations.

He was arraigned before on-call District Judge William Kissner, of Palmerton, and committed to the county prison in Nesquehoning after failing to post $100,000 straight cash bail. The bail was later reduced to $25,000 percentage which was posted and he was released from custody.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled July 20.

Den McLaughlin contributed to this report.