A Carbon County man pleaded guilty to a simple assault charge stemming from an incident where the arresting officer was stuck by a needle during an arrest.

William Moyer, 40, of Bowmanstown, entered the plea on Monday in Carbon County court before Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Palmerton police arrested Moyer on Oct. 11, 2018, for an incident in the area of St. John’s UCC, Columbia Avenue. Police responded to the area to a complaint of individuals sleeping at a facility used for donated clothing.

Moyer was one of the individuals involved. While being taken into custody he was asked by the arresting officer if he had anything in his pockets that could harm anyone. He told the officer no. But when the officer was searching Moyer’s pockets, he was stuck by a needle used in drug use. The officer suffered no permanent medical problem.

Nanovic placed Moyer on probation for six months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.

Moyer is currently an inmate in the county prison on other pending charges.