Schuylkill County Woman Chased Ex-Girlfriend Around New Philadelphia with a Pocketknife, Police Say

New Year’s Eve 2023 got off to a raucous start in New Philadelphia. It was there that a Schuylkill County woman allegedly lost her temper and caused a scene involving her ex-girlfriend.

According to court documents obtained by The Canary, this incident happened a little after 9 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2023, when police were summoned to a home on Valley St. in New Philly for a fight involving a knife.

Desiree Acosta says she was in her apartment on Valley St. with her ex-girlfriend, Brianna Bradshaw, 25, of Pottsville, at the time. At one point, the two women engaged in a verbal argument over relationship issues, police say.

That’s when Bradshaw, Acosta says, began throwing things about the apartment. Bradshaw then left the apartment.

Acosta says she then left the apartment and waited outside for a friend to arrive, Serena Allen.

While waiting for Allen to arrive, Acosta says, she noticed that all 4 tires on her vehicle were slashed. That’s when Bradshaw returned to the scene in her vehicle and allegedly attempted to run over Acosta, according to the police report.

Bradshaw parked the vehicle and then tried getting back into the apartment, despite Acosta’s protests. Regardless, Bradshaw went into the apartment and emerged a short time later, this time brandishing a black pocketknife.

Acosta says that’s when Bradshaw “began chasing her up and down the street with the pocketknife,” according to the police affidavit. Bradshaw allegedly tried stabbing Acosta several times.

During this brouhaha, Bradshaw also reportedly threatened to “get a gun and shoot” Acosta. Acosta told police she knew Bradshaw had a concealed carry permit and feared for her life.

She also told police that Bradshaw punched, kicked, and shoved her several times. This is about when Allen arrived at the scene. When she did, Bradshaw reportedly stabbed the passenger door on Allen’s vehicle, causing a large gouge, police report.

Allen said Bradshaw pounded on the window of her vehicle and kicked the vehicle before stabbing it with the knife.

Bradshaw reportedly calmed down and drove away. She was later picked up by Pottsville police after State Police issued a local alert for other authorities to be on the lookout for her.

State Police say they obtained surveillance footage from the New Philadelphia Borough Garage and it reportedly shows Bradshaw throwing rocks and other items at Acosta and her vehicle.

After Bradshaw left the scene, Acosta went back in her apartment and reportedly saw a bit of a mess. Bradshaw allegedly “punctured” an air fryer, cut an air mattress, and poured bleach on several items of clothing. She apparently left the scene with a Nike hoodie, too.

State Police interviewed Bradshaw and she denied all accusations. She reportedly did admit to police that she threw a “box of belongings” at Acosta and shoved her. Bradshaw explained her behavior by saying she was “worked up and yelling” because she was upset.

Bradshaw was arraigned before District Magistrate AJ Serina later in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve. She’ll appear before District Magistrate David Plachko on Feb. 20 to answer to charges of felony burglary, felony aggravated assault, several misdemeanors and summary offenses. She was released on unsecured $25,000 bail.

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