Man in custody after confrontation with police in Bensalem

BENSALEM, Pa. (WPVI) -- Law enforcement in Bucks County took a suspect into custody following an early morning confrontation with police.

It began around 8 a.m. Tuesday on Ethan Allen Court in Bensalem. That's when neighbors noticed a man walking around and acting strangely.

"Walking up and down the street looking at houses. He didn't live on our street. We're a tight-knit community," said one neighbor who did not want to be identified.

That anonymous neighbor says he called police and, when the officer questioned the man, things escalated.

"He decided to go off the deep end, fighting with the officer, so I tried to apprehend him with the officer. He was tased, pulled the Tasers out of his jacket, and ran away," the neighbor said.

According to court papers, 44-year-old Christopher Leupold appeared to be under the influence and kept reaching into his pockets.

When he didn't stop when the officer asked, she tried to put his arm behind his back.

Leupold took off and a two-hour search began with a drone and a K-9.

Nearby Valley Elementary School was placed on lockdown.

Eventually, police say, Leupold was found hiding behind a shed. Police also say Leupold had tried to enter a home on the street through a window.

Leupold was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon and then taken out on a stretcher because police say he needed his diabetes medication.

Bensalem authorities commended the neighbors who called them.

"If something on the back of your neck is telling you something wrong - there's a 98% chance that something is wrong," said Director of Public Safety Fred Harran.

"He keeps an eye on things, and I'm on the corner and we have a couple neighbors down on the end, and we kind of just get together and we watch everybody and watch everything," said neighbor Erin Kee.

Leupold is charged with aggravated assault, disarming a police officer, attempted burglary and other offenses.

Leupold was also arraigned for another incident resulting in theft and receiving stolen property charges back in September.

The police officer involved in Tuesday's incident suffered a minor injury to her leg. We are told no one else was injured.

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