Stanley P. Brozana Jr., 72 – Served 37 Years as Orwigsburg Police Chief
A Schuylkill County man is facing an assault charge after police say he pushed his 86-year-old neighbor to the ground during an argument.
State Police-Frackville say they were dispatched to an apartment building in Girardville at about 3:15 p.m. on Feb. 10. There, police say they spoke with a man, 86, who said he and his upstairs neighbor were engaged in a verbal argument that turned physical.
The victim in this case said he confronted his neighbor – identified as 35-year-old Jeremy Leatherman – about the noise he and his family makes. The argument went from verbal to physical, he said, when Leatherman pushed him to the ground.
As he fell to the ground, the victim hit the top of his head on the sidewalk. Police said in their affidavit that while interviewing the victim, he was bleeding from a two-inch laceration on the top of his head and there was a small pool of blood on the sidewalk.
After allegedly shoving his neighbor to the ground, police learned, Leatherman retreated to his home and spoke with his girlfriend and said that the altercation with the neighbor was purely verbal in nature. He then reportedly left the apartment and walked toward the Unity Mart in the borough.
Police attempted to look for Leatherman but came up empty. In the meantime, police say they obtained surveillance video of the altercation and it confirmed that Leatherman did push the neighbor to the ground and then eventually leave the scene with two other unidentified men.
At about 6 p.m. that evening, Leatherman contacted State Police and agreed to speak with them. During the interview, police said, Leatherman reportedly admitted to pushing his neighbor, which caused him to fall to the ground. He said he waited to call police due to his anxiety.
Leatherman has been charged with simple assault, a misdemeanor, and a summary offense for harassment. A preliminary hearing before District Magistrate Judge Edward Tarantelli is scheduled for March 5.
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