Carmichaels man arrested following altercation at high school
A Carmichaels man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly refused to leave the local high school and fought with police officers.
Cumberland Township police charged Jack Douglas Trackemas, 63, with felonies of aggravated assault and disarming a law enforcement officer. He also faces misdemeanor charges of trespassing and possession of a weapon on school property.
According to the criminal complaint, Cumberland police were called to Carmichaels Area High School at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday while school resource officers attempted to arrest Trackemas.
Charging documents state that Trackemas arrived at the school and claimed he had a meeting with security to obtain a keycard for the field house. District Security Officer Craig Miller told Trackemas to return around noon, as the district was operating on a two hour delay and students were just arriving.
According to the complaint, officers escorted Trackemas out of the building when he attempted to enter the school’s hallways from the main office. Trackemas allegedly tried to re-enter the building more than 30 times.
Superintendent Fred Morecraft said Trackemas has no affiliation with Carmichaels Area School District.
Court records state that Trackemas fought with police and continued to resist after he was shocked by a Taser. Police said he had to be forced into a patrol car. According to the complaint, Trackemas pulled Taser probes out of himself which resulted in one of the probes getting caught in an officer’s wrist and causing an open wound.
The officer was later treated at UPMC Greene. Another officer had a cut to his right pinky finger.
Police searched Trackemas after taking him into custody and found he had a knife in his possession while on school grounds.
Trackemas was arraigned Thursday afternoon before District Judge Lee Watson, who sent him to the Greene County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 15.