Work Release Inmate Found, Tasered, in Nazareth

An inmate who failed to return to Northampton County Prison from work release Friday was found in Nazareth and is back in custody, but only after being tasered by borough police.

Accroding to police, officers responded to a 911 hang up Monday at 116 Belvidere St., where they found William Joseph Shannon, 36, sitting at the top of the stairs of the apartment building.

When Officer Harold Biechy attempted to place Shannon in the rear of the police car, Shannon ran, crossing over Belvidere Street, running west toward S. Broad Street, police say.

When Shannon ignored the officer’s commands to stop, Biechy used his Taser, which hit Shannon in the back, according to court papers.  Shannon continued to run across the S. Broad and N. Broad street intersection and attempted to run through a yard.

Shannon was apprehended in the front yard of 62 S. Broad St.

Before the chase, officers found a metal pipe containing mesh screening on Shannon’s possession. 

Shannon was charged with escape, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, public drunkenness and making false reports to law enforcement authorities, according to police.

Shannon was sent back to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.