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Sex Offender Chokes Woman, Flees, Injures Lititz Officer, Police Say

A 28-year-old registered sex offender injured a police officer during a tussle in Lititz, on Wednesday, Nov. 2, authorities say. 

Derek Alan Manz.

Derek Alan Manz.

Photo Credit: Megan's Law (center); Lititz Borough Police (left, right)

Derek Alan Manz fled before Lititz Borough police responded to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance at a home in the 400 Block of West Marion Street at 6:12 p.m., according to a release by the department. 

Upon arrival, a woman told them that Manz assaulted and choked her. Her injuries were non-life-threatening, according to the police. 

That wasn't the last officers heard about Manz that evening, around 9:37 p.m., a Lititz Borough officer noticed Manz returning to the home, so the officer tried to arrest him— he resisted and a struggle ensued, as detailed in the release. 

While fighting off the officer, Manz "fell into a table" and then "down a short flight of stairs," as stated in the release. 

The officer was hurt during the struggle and was treated for sprains, according to the release. 

Other officers present, pulled out a TASER device and suddenly Manz "complied with directions and was taken into custody."

It does not appear that the TASER device was used, according to the information shared in the release. 

Manz was charged with a felony for strangulation, two misdemeanors for simple assault and terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize, and resisting arrest, court records show. 

He was briefly committed to the Lancaster County Prison after failing to post $30,000— $25,000 for the assault and $5,000 for resisting arrest, according to his latest court dockets.

He posted a surety bond for his release on Thursday, Nov. 3. 

Manz has a criminal record in Lancaster County with charges including drug use in 2016, resisting arrest and public drunkenness in 2014, and sexually assaulting a child between the age of 8 and 16 in July 2013, court records show. 

He served prison time, work release, and then probation for the above charges, and was under "Active Supervision" as well as being registered as a sex offender at the time of this latest incident, court documents detail. 

His preliminary hearings have been scheduled before Magisterial District Judges David L. Ashworth on Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. and Edward A. Tobin on Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m., according to his latest court docket. 

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