ALLENTOWN, Pa. — An Allentown Police officer has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault based on allegations he struck a suspect with a firearm.
Abviud Carvajal is facing a second-degree felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a second-degree misdemeanor count of simple assault.
A conviction on a charge of felony aggravated assault in Pennsylvania carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
A criminal complaint details how Carvajal allegedly tried to or did knowingly cause bodily harm to a man by striking him with a Glock 19 Gen5 9mm pistol.
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announced the charges at a news conference Thursday.
Roca said Carvajal is on unpaid administrative leave, “and it’ll go through the process of the criminal case, and we were also going to do an internal investigation relating to the incident.”
Account of the incident
A release from the district attorney's office details how police were called to the 700 block of North 11th St., Allentown, for a report of a threat involving a firearm.
An investigation found the woman received a threatening call and pictures from her boyfriend displaying a firearm and threatening to come to her home and harm her.
Police identified Thomas Kravitz of Philadelphia as the woman's boyfriend, and were able to find a truck belonging to Kravitz, the release says.
"Kravitz was visible to Carvajal for at least four seconds before Carvajal struck Kravitz in the face with the muzzle of his gun.”Lehigh County District Attorney statement
The release gives this account of the incident:
After surveilling the area, police saw Kravitz arrive at the woman’s home in his truck.
Officers tried to stop Kravitz’s truck as he fled and hit an Allentown Police Department vehicle.
A pursuit followed, leading from Allentown to Whitehall Township, where Kravitz’s truck crashed at 13th and Pennsylvania streets.
The investigation, which included body camera footage and dash camera footage, showed Carvajal with his gun drawn approaching Kravitz.
The video shows Kravitz standing at the rear of his truck in a position of surrender with his hands held above his head.
Kravitz was being detained by another officer with a firearm at the time.
Based on the body camera footage, the district attorney’s report states “it is clear that Kravitz was empty-handed and surrendering to officers.
"He remained standing with his empty hands over his head as Carvajal approached," it says. "Kravitz was visible to Carvajal for at least four seconds before Carvajal struck Kravitz in the face with the muzzle of his gun.”
The statement says Kravitz made no motions that could have been construed as threatening.
'Ensure accountability'
Kravitz was knocked to the ground with injuries to his face.
He was then transported to a hospital, where he was treated for his wounds, then arrested and charged with several felony and misdemeanor counts of illegal possession of a firearm, fleeing the police and causing an accident involving injury while not properly licensed.
He's now in Lehigh County Jail awaiting a preliminary hearing.
“Our officers show up day in and day out to do a good job, and my priority is to maintain public trust, to work to maintain public trust within our community, and also to ensure accountability when things go wrong. And this is something that I'm very much behind and with my team of officers: The community can expect nothing less but professionalism."Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca
A loaded .22-caliber handgun was recovered in the 1200 block of Whitehall Street and it is believed Kravitz discarded the gun during the pursuit, authorities said.
Holihan said Carvajal was not interviewed as part of the case, and had given no reason as to why he allegedly struck Kravitz.
Roca assured the public that the incident did not define the actions or conduct of Allentown Police Department.
“Our officers show up day in and day out to do a good job, and my priority is to maintain public trust, to work to maintain public trust within our community, and also to ensure accountability when things go wrong," Roca said.
"And this is something that I'm very much behind and with my team of officers: The community can expect nothing less but professionalism."
