Tony Baysinger

A Butler man is accused of assaulting a city police officer following a weekend shoplifting incident at a convenience store on the 400 block of West Jefferson Street.

Police said Tony J. Baysinger, 46, struck Patrolman Cheryl Litz in the face, breaking her eyeglasses, following his arrest early Saturday morning. A Taser was deployed, police said, when he allegedly resisted officers.

Baysinger is charged with felony counts of aggravated assault of a police officer and retail theft, and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and criminal mischief. He is in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bond.

Officers were initially called around 11:20 p.m. Saturday for a reported shoplifting incident at the A-Plus Sunoco. The thief got away with about $14 in merchandise, which included two energy drinks and a jug of orange juice.

Just after midnight, police said, officers spotted Baysinger, who matched the suspect's description. He was arrested and taken to the police station.

While in the processing room, according to charging documents, the defendant struck Litz with an open hand. Damage to her glasses was estimated at $200.

“Baysinger continued to actively resist officers' attempts to take him into custody,” documents said, “and (he) was subsequently subdued after a Taser was deployed.”

Police said when they checked the suspect's criminal record, they found he had four prior shoplifting convictions.

Normally a summary or misdemeanor offense, retail theft in Pennsylvania is upgraded to a third-degree felony regardless of the stolen property's value when a defendant has had at least two prior arrests for the same crime.

Baysinger's preliminary hearing was not immediately scheduled. Online court records did not list an attorney for him.