Police: Connecticut man who spit blood on trooper facing DUI and related charges in Union County
Oct. 12—LEWISBURG — A Connecticut man already facing felony assault charges after allegedly spitting blood on a trooper and kicking a Geisinger security guard in Montour County is facing additional charges in Union County for allegedly being high on marijuana when he crashed into a house on Westbranch Highway outside Lewisburg, according to Buffalo Valley Regional Police.
Mason Muir, 20, of Woodside Drive, Greenwich, was charged with three misdemeanors: two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and one count of accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle or property; and four summary offenses. The charges were filed by Buffalo Valley Regional Police Cpl. Shawn Burns in the Lewisburg office of District Judge Jeff Rowe.
Burns was dispatched to the home of Krysta and Chad Biting on Westbranch Highway near Furnace Road at around 4 a.m. Sept. 9. Muir had allegedly crashed into the Bitings' home and fled the scene on foot in a southbound direction, but Burns was able to identify him based on the license plate, a Bucknell University student ID and phone left behind, according to court documents.
Burns reported that Muir allegedly drove off Westbranch Highway and hit a mailbox, propelling the object into a Jeep owned by Dylan Boop. Muir allegedly drove through the brush on the property of Douglas Smith and onto his sidewalk, only a few feet from Smith's home, and collided with Smith's 2022 Ram 1500 pickup truck, police said
Muir allegedly left Smith's property and collided with the Biting's home. The vehicle was severely disabled with multiple airbags deployed, police said.
"The path of Muir's vehicle appeared to be a straight line," Burns reported. "I could not see any tire marks that indicated that Muir was trying to take evasive action or slow the vehicle."
The Bitings, their two juvenile daughters and their family friend were home at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported, police said.
Following the towing of the vehicle and an inspection of the home, Burns reported that the house did not appear to be habitable. The crash caused the ceiling of the top floor to fall down and there were cracks in the walls, indicating that the foundation had shifted from the crash, police said.
William Cameron Fire Department notified the American Red Cross of the crash to assist the Bitings, police said.
Muir found after search
Muir was found following a canvas of the area at the nearby Shaffer's Card Shop. Muir allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana and driving the vehicle involved in the crash. Having sustained facial injuries from the incident, police said Muir was transported by EMS to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Montour County.
To obtain a legal blood draw from Muir, troopers followed EMS to the hospital where Muir was placed in an emergency room bed. Muir allegedly became extremely agitated and began yelling and screaming and flailing his arms and feet around in a violent manner, according to court documents.
Geisinger Medical Center staff, Geisinger security and troopers attempted to restrain Muir who allegedly continued to yell, "get off of me" and "get out," before sitting up in the bed, breaking free from medical staff and intentionally spitting blood on a trooper's right forearm, officers said.
Muir also allegedly intentionally kicked a Geisinger security guard before he was restrained to the bed to receive medical treatment, according to state police.
Medical records obtained by search warrants indicate that Muir's urine was positive for cannabinoids at the time of testing, which is consistent with Muir's statements to police on the night of the crash. Further testing from the National Medical Services laboratory determined a positive result for a metabolite of Delta-9 THC, a chemical in cannabis.
Charges filed
In Montour County, Muir was charged with two felony counts of assault of a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault; a misdemeanor disorderly conduct; and two summary offenses. The charges were filed by state Trooper Tyler Arbogast, of the Milton State Police Barracks, in the Mahoning Township office of District Judge William W. Wilt III.
Muir is scheduled for preliminary hearings on the two sets of charges at 3:15 p.m. Nov. 2 in front of Rowe and 11 a.m. Nov. 21 in front of Wilt.
On the Montour County charges, Muir is free after posting $25,000 bail through professional bondsman Melisa Whistler, of Middleburg. No bail has been set yet for the Union County charges.
The Daily Item reporter Anna Wiest contributed to this report.
