Hempfield man accused by state police of feigning injuries to avoid jail

A Hempfield man is accused by state police of fighting with an emergency room nurse and a trooper at Excela Health Westmoreland hospital in Greensburg to avoid jail.

Philip M. Nicklow, 39, was taken into custody as state police investigated a traffic accident about 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Hempfield and troopers learned Nicklow was wanted on multiple theft warrants from Fayette and Westmoreland counties.

However, police said he complained of being injured and needing medical treatment as troopers were taking him to jail.

Doctors told police Nicklow — who has resided in Uniontown and Leechburg — has been seen several times previously for injuries after being arrested for outstanding warrants, Trooper Kyle Nolan said in court documents.

Each time, there was nothing wrong with Nickl0w, Nolan said.

After doctors said Nicklow was cleared for incarceration, Nolan said he refused to cooperate and struggled with officers. He broke a strap on the trooper’s body armor and kicked a nurse, police said,

According to online dockets, a bench warrant was issued for Nicklow in Fayette County on charges filed by state police in 2019 for theft and retail theft for incidents in Dunbar Township. A warrant was also issued against Nicklow for skipping preliminary hearings in a January 2021 theft in Hempfield.

Nicklow was arraigned Monday on counts of aggravated assault, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest for the incidents at the hospital. He was ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $35,000 bond.