A Schuylkill County man was briefly jailed after police say he fought a dog and repeatedly assaulted a woman earlier this week.
Police in Saint Clair say they were alerted to a potential domestic assault in progress early Monday night on S. Front St. in the borough. When they arrived at the scene, police say they saw Joseph Brannan, 34, standing on the porch and a visibly upset woman they’ve identified as the victim sitting behind him.
This was not the first time police were called to this particular address that day. Earlier, police say they and fire personnel were there for a fire in the yard. Brannan, police say, was “extremely uncooperative and irate” during that visit. He allegedly yelled at both police and an assistant fire chief.
On their second visit, police say Brannan was clearly intoxicated. They learned later in their investigation that he’d been drinking Natty Daddy, a particularly strong beer. Brannan, police say, could not keep his balance and needed help standing and walking.
While he was detained in a police vehicle during the investigation, police say Brannan was “pleading the Fifth” and refused to speak.
During an interview with the victim, police say they learned that Brannan had been fighting with their dog and she told him to stop for fear he was hurting the animal. Brannan allegedly became agitated by that and turned his attention to her, grabbing her and throwing her to the ground several times. She said he also attempted to throw her from a porch, putting her in fear for her life.
The victim, police say, suffered multiple injuries, including scratches and swelling.
Brannan was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and charged with two counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct, harassment, and public drunkenness.
Bayer set nominal bail at $1 and Brannan was sent to Schuylkill County Prison. Bail was posted on Wednesday.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9 at District Court in Port Carbon.
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