Reports of a woman screaming in North Park led to the arrest of a McCandless man who fought with two police officers who responded to the park, according to Allegheny County Police.

Police were called to the park just before midnight Thursday when someone at the park’s administration building reported hearing a woman screaming near the tennis courts, said county police Inspector Wesley McClellan. The caller reported seeing a gold car with its doors open in the area.

County police arrived and found the gold vehicle with its doors closed and windows fogged, according to the complaint. Inside, a man later identified as Austin Smyers, 31, was slumped over in the driver’s seat with the seat reclined.

Investigators said Smyers refused to identify himself or get out of the car, and he was “evasive with answering questions.” They noted that he wore no shoes and had grass on his feet.

Officers eventually tried to forcibly remove Smyers from the car after he continued to ignore their requests to get out, according to the complaint. Police said Smyers fought with the officers and continued to struggle even after he was taken to the ground, refusing to allow himself to be handcuffed.

An officer eventually used a Taser and Smyers was taken into custody. Police found a 3.5-inch blade in his pocket.

One officer received cuts to his hands, knees and head during the struggle. He also required breathing treatment from paramedics for an asthma attack. Another officer was cut on his knees and forearms, police said.

Police searched the creek, lake and wooded areas near the tennis courts for the woman who’d been screaming but found no one, according to the complaint.

Smyers is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of resisting arrest. Court records did not list a defense attorney as of Friday afternoon. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month.

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