A Schuylkill County man allegedly attacked two police officers who were trying to quell an argument inside an apartment building on Christmas Eve.
According to court records, the incident happened on N. West St. in Shenandoah at about 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 24. Police were responding to a 9-1-1 call in which dispatchers said it sounded like multiple people were fighting in the background.
Two police officers arrived on the scene and heard, from the street, the sound of several people yelling and a physical altercation happening on the second floor of that address on N. West St. When they went inside the apartment building, they came across two adult men, Osbal Valenzuela Garcia and Salvador Valenzuela. Each was standing in the open doors to apartments inside. A woman was standing in the doorway of each apartment, too. All four were arguing among themselves, police say.
That’s when police decided to intervene. During the altercation, police say Salvador Valenzuela attempted to engage in a physical altercation with Claudia Soto, one of the women involved in the incident, who was yelling at him at the time.
Shenandoah Police officer Matthew Williams says he put up his right hand and “gently placed it” on Valenzuela’s chest and told him to stay away and not engage Soto further.
While Williams did this, Valenzuela-Garcial allegeldy wrapped both of his hands around Williams’ neck and then shoved the officer. That’s when Capt. Travis Bowman intervened and tried to take Valenzuela-Garcia into custody. A struggle ensued and Bowman had his back against a wall, police say. Valenzuela-Garcia shoved his back into Bowman’s chest as Bowman tried to get him on the ground.
The struggle continued and eventually Bowman had Valenzuela-Garcia against a wall. Police tried to get his hands behind his back but Valenzuela-Garcia continued to struggle. Williams deployed his Taser several times in an attempt to subdue him, with the third hit finally getting him under control.
Valenzuela-Garcia has been charged with third-degree felony aggravated assault, a misdemeanor of resisting arrest, and a summary offense for harassment.
He was arraigned early Christmas morning by District Magistrate Judge James Reiley and remanded to Schuylkill County Prison on $20,000 cash bail. Bail was posted and he was released on Dec. 26. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2025, before Judge Anthony Kilker.
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