A 69-year-old constable was allegedly assaulted by a prisoner he was transporting to York County Prison about 3:25 p.m. Thursday.

Prisoner Jonathan Lee Heck, 20, no address provided, was sitting handcuffed in the backseat of a vehicle constable Donald Gettys was driving when Heck was able to slip a hand out of the handcuffs, according to state police.

Heck then reached over the driver's seat and choked Gettys with the seat belt, police said.

Gettys was able to free himself and drove to the prison where Heck was removed by correction officers, police said.

Gettys suffered a minor abrasion to the top of his scalp, police said.

The incident happened on West Market Street near the intersection with Northern Way in Springettsbury Township.

Heck had been arraigned on theft of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property charges out of Spring Garden Township at District Judge Walter Groom's office on Sixth Avenue just before the alleged assault, according to online court documents.

Unable to post $10,000 bail, Heck was being taken back to the prison when the attack happened, according to police. As a result, Heck is now also charged with aggravated assault, police said.