Police in Pennsylvania publicly misidentified the military status of a U.S. Army soldier accused of assaulting a police officer, according to confirmation provided by the U.S. Army.
Thomas Angel Rowe, 21, was described in a publicly released arrest summary as an “active platoon leader” in the U.S. Army following a violent confrontation with police outside a bar in Doylestown. The Army has since confirmed that characterization was incorrect.
In a statement provided to The Salty Soldier, the Army confirmed that Rowe is an enlisted infantry soldier assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), not a commissioned officer and did not hold a leadership position.
“Specialist Thomas Rowe is an infantryman who did not hold a leadership position in the unit,” said Maj. Jonathon Bless, a division spokesperson. “The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is aware of his recent arrest… and Spec. Rowe has been administratively flagged pending the outcome of civilian court proceedings.”
Police Narrative Contradicted
The misidentification appeared in an arrest narrative published on the CrimeWatch platform by the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, which stated that Rowe was “identified as an active platoon leader in the U.S. Army.”
The arrest summary does not explain how that determination was made and does not attribute the description to a statement by Rowe, military documentation, or confirmation from the Army.
Court records reviewed by The Salty Soldier do not list Rowe’s military rank or assignment. The Army’s on-the-record response directly contradicts the police description.
As of publication, police have not publicly corrected or clarified the platoon-leader designation.
Alleged Assault on Officer
According to police, officers were dispatched shortly after midnight on Dec. 27, 2025, to a reported fight outside a bar on North Main Street in Doylestown.
Authorities allege that while an officer attempted to separate two men involved in a physical altercation, Rowe attacked the officer from behind, striking him in the head. Police claim Rowe continued to assault the officer after both men fell to the ground, ignored repeated commands to stop, and slammed the officer’s head onto icy pavement.
Police further allege that Rowe bit the officer on the arm while bystanders shouted warnings that he was assaulting a police officer. Additional officers were required to restrain Rowe, who police say continued to resist arrest.
Multiple bystanders reportedly recorded the incident on their cell phones. Investigators have asked members of the public with video of the incident to contact police.
Charges and Court Status
Rowe was arraigned on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including aggravated assault and resisting arrest. Bail was set at 10 percent of $75,000, and court records show he was released after posting bail through a professional surety.
The Army confirmed that Rowe has been administratively flagged, a routine personnel action that restricts promotions and favorable administrative actions while civilian criminal charges are pending.
The Salty Soldier has submitted public records requests seeking additional documentation related to the arrest, including reports and materials explaining how Rowe’s military status was identified in the initial police narrative.
All criminal charges are allegations. Thomas Angel Rowe is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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