Schuylkill County Man Has Charges Held for Court After Alleged Quarter Stick Threat

A Schuylkill County man remains in prison today after an incident late last month involving a Quarter Stick.

According to State Police-Schuylkill Haven, this incident happened at a home on Terrace Hill Rd. in Pine Grove Twp. on the afternoon of April 30.

Police say at that time, Matthew Zelinsky, 37, got into a verbal dispute with his parents at his home. “During his tirade,” police say, Zelinsky allegedly placed a Quarter Stick on a table where his parents were sitting.

Zelinsky allegedly threatened to light that Quarter Stick if his parents didn’t answer his questions. At the time of this threat, police say Zelinsky was holding a butane torch lighter in his hand. 

During this incident, someone dialed 9-1-1 and that caused Zelinsky to flee. A few hours later, however, he returned but refused to exit the home while he was speaking to police. 

Police say they obtained a warrant and after several hours, Zelinsky was taken into custody without incident. Later that day, Zelinsky was arraigned before District Magistrate Anthony Kilker, who set cash bail at $100,000, which he hasn’t posted.

Zelinsky appeared at a Preliminary Hearing on Thursday before District Magistrate David Rossi. A pair of first-degree felony aggravated assault charges have been withdrawn, according to a court docket.

Misdemeanor charges of making a bomb threat, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and terroristic threats were held for County court on Thursday.

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