A Schuylkill County man is facing an assault charge following an alleged fight he had in the laundry room of a senior living high rise.
Police in Schuylkill Haven say they were dispatched to the Schuylkill Haven High Rise shortly before 9 a.m. on Tuesday for a report of an assault in the laundry room.
In the lobby of the High Rise, police say they were met by the victim of the alleged assault who told them that his attacker was still in the laundry room. The victim reportedly told police that he went to the laundry room to do his wash.
He said that he took a person’s clothes out of a washing machine so he could use it. The victim said it’s standard practice to do that when the person whose laundry it is isn’t present when it’s completed its cycle.
Shortly thereafter, the victim said he was approached by Yon Schlear, 74, in the laundry room. Schlear began yelling at him, the victim said, and then he either got pushed or punched. Whatever it was, he said, it caused him to lose his balance and he fell backward. The victim said he was using a walker to get to the laundry room that day.
When police questioned Schlear, they said he admitted to yelling at the victim but denied any physical interaction. Police reminded him that the laundry room is under video surveillance and that if he wasn’t telling the truth, he’d be arrested.
Video from the laundry room was obtained later that day and it reportedly showed Schlear “emphatically pointing his finger” and yelling at the victim. The victim then points back at Schlear while holding himself up against a washing machine to maintain balance, police say.
Schlear then reportedly approaches the victim in an aggressive manner and punches at him with his right hand. The victim blocked that punch with his left arm. Schlear then takes a swing with his left hand. That was also blocked but during the defensive move, the victim reportedly lost his balance and fell backward, landing on a chair, police say.
Police have charged Schlear with simple assault and harassment. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 26.
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