A Schuylkill County man was jailed after he allegedly shoved another man onto the street while they drank Steel Reserve last week.
A Trooper from State Police-Schuylkill Haven says he was dispatched to Lang St. in Port Carbon at about 10 p.m. on Aug. 14 for a reported fight.
At the scene, police say they spoke with the alleged victim of the fight. The victim was bleeding from a large laceration on the back of his head. Police say the victim was heavily intoxicated at the time of their arrival and there were multiple empty Steel Reserve cans next to him.
The victim reported told police that he was outside drinking with the defendant in this incident – John Romine, 47, of Port Carbon – and others. He said a verbal argument broke out between he and Romine until he tripped, fell, and cracked his head off Lang St.
Police say the victim insisted that his head injury was the result of a fall.
Romine, also intoxicated at the time, was then interviewed about the reported fight. He allegedly told police that the victim fell over the curb and hit his head on the street.
However, a witness to the incident reportedly approached police during their investigation and presented a different account of what happened. After hearing yelling coming from the middle of Lang St., the witness reportedly told police that Romine and the victim were engaged in a verbal argument. Then, the victim said, Romine shoved the victim to the street.
The witness said he could hear the victim’s head hit the street
Romine was again questioned about the incident and said that the victim approached him with a shovel and tried to hit him with it. He said he pushed the victim as an act of self-defense.
However, the witness reportedly told police that there was no shovel involved in the incident.
Romine was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge AJ Serina just before 1 a.m. on Aug. 15. He’s been charged with felony aggravated assault and a misdemeanor offense for Simple assault. Summary charges of harassment, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness have also been filed.
Serina set bail at $25,000, which hasn’t been posted and Romine remains housed at Schuylkll County Prison.
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