Reading police have arrested a man who allegedly punched an officer in the face during a disturbance at the Pagoda last weekend involving a large group of people, many of whom were riding dirt bikes illegally.
An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Lorenzo Gonzalez, 29, of the 600 block of Buttonwood Street, on aggravated assault, interference with the administration of justice, riot and related charges.
Gonzales turned himself in Friday and is being held on $750,000 bail, police said.
According to the police:
Officer Michael Balch was assigned to a dirt bike detail on June 8 after police learned through social media that a large number of all-terrain vehicle riders were planning to gather in the city.
Balch was on Duryea Drive when he heard police being sent to the Pagoda for a report of a large and rowdy crowd.
As he got out of his car to clear the road, he saw a man, later identified as Luis Melo-Castillo, 26, of Reading on an illegal dirt bike.
The officer approached Melo-Castillo and grabbed him as he tried to turn on the bike. A struggle ensued and a crowd formed around the two men.
Video footage of the incident shows that as the struggle progressed, Gonzalez approached the officer from behind and raised his fist to strike him.
Gonzalez does not wave at the officer at that moment, but stops and eventually ends up in front of the officer. Gonzalez can be seen yelling at the officer and trying to pull Melo-Castillo away from Balch, who lunges at Gonzalez in response.
Gonzalez is then seen in the video punching the officer in the face twice before the footage ends.
