A Hazleton man is being sought for aggravated assault on Nesquehoning Police Chief Sean Smith along with numerous other counts, including drug charges.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Tito Steva Rodriguez, 20, of 878 N. Lee Court, Apt. 4.According to the affidavit of probable cause Chief Sean Smith was on duty on Oct. 19 monitoring speed along Route 93 and state game lands. At 4:28 p.m. a vehicle was clocked going southbound at 76.5 mph in a 55 mph zone.Smith stopped the car and radioed the registration plate number to the communications center then approached the car, a light green Volkswagen Passat.Smith said the driver, who was later identified as Rodriguez, was nervous and his hands were shaking. Rodriguez was able to give Smith the registration card and insurance information but said he did not have a license with him. He said he was going to pick up a sick friend to take to the hospital. Rodriguez then provided his name and birth date. A check revealed his license was under suspension.Smith informed Rodriquez he was going to be cited for speeding and driving under suspension and that the vehicle was going to be towed.Smith said as he was preparing the citations, Rodriquez motioned for him to return to the vehicle, at which point the suspect said a friend was coming to drive the car and had a valid license. Smith said that was OK.Rodriquez was then observed by Smith moving around in the vehicle, acting suspiciously. Smith again approached the vehicle and asked Rodriquez if there was any contraband in the vehicle and asked if he could search the vehicle, which the suspect agreed to. Rodriquez got out of the car, at which point Smith asked if he had any illegal drugs on him and requested a pat-down search.Smith found crack cocaine hidden in Rodriquez's pants pocket and groin area. He also found a large amount of cash on him. Rodriquez then began to argue with the officer. Smith told Rodriquez to stand in front of his vehicle while he searched it.While Smith was searching the vehicle, he noticed Rodriquez was no longer in front of the car but standing behind him. Smith said Rodriquez then began to argue about Smith searching the vehicle and pulled away from him when Smith tried to grab him by the arm. Rodriquez's shoulder hit Smith's shoulder.As Rodriquez turned away and started to run, Smith grabbed Rodriguez's pants and felt what he thought was a weapon. Rodriguez pulled away and ran into the nearby woods. Smith called for backup and pulled his service revolver and remained at the car. The vehicle was impounded and taken to Marouchoc's towing.The next day a search warrant was secured for the vehicle. Smith, officer Timothy Wuttke, and state trooper Tony Doblovasky and his K-9 unit searched the vehicle. Found in the glove box was a small amount of marijuana. Also found was a white heroin baggie with resin in it, a bowl/pipe with burnt marijuana resin in it, a cellophane baggie, clear baggie with vegetable matter in it, and a rolled-up dollar bill used in drug use.The money found on Rodriquez was counted and it amounted to $476. The vehicle was then placed in an impound lot. The drugs found tested positive for illegal substances.He is charged with the following criminal counts: two counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault and possession of a controlled substance, and one count each of escape, resisting arrest, tamper with/fabricate physical evidence, driving while operating privileges is suspended or revoke, and maximum speed limits.Police ask anyone who knows the whereabouts of Rodriquez to call them at 570-669-9111.