A Schuylkill County man allegedly admitted to punching his son in the face multiple times over the weekend after he claims his son tried throwing dog dirt on him.
Police in Frackville say they responded to a home on N. Broad Mountain Ave. shortly before 2 a.m. on March 28, after a neighbor reported yelling and loud banging coming from next door.
At the scene, police say they met with John Speidel, 61. Speidel told police his son was under the influence of drugs and had attempted to throw dog feces at him with a shovel. Speidel told police he then proceeded to “beat the sh** out of him,” saying he punched the victim in the face three times. The victim then fled the home through a rear exit, police say.
Police say Speidel showed no signs of injuries.
About 10 to 20 minutes later, police say they located the victim outside another home on N. Broad Mountain Ave. The victim reportedly told police Speidel punched him three times in the face after the victim confronted his father for going through his mother’s phone.
Police say the son had a bruise below the victim’s right eye and a bleeding laceration on the tip of his nose.
A witness told police the victim attempted to throw dog feces at Speidel with a shovel, and that the victim fled the residence after Speidel struck him.
Speidel was arraigned on charges of simple assault and harassment before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley and released on $5,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing before Judge Edward Tarantelli is scheduled for April 29.
Schuylkill County Crisis & Support Resources
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence, free, confidential, and inclusive help is available 24/7 in Schuylkill County.
- Schuylkill Hope Center (Domestic Violence): Call the 24/7 hotline at (570) 622-6220, text HOPELINE to 20121, or visit schopecenter.org. Services include emergency shelter, housing assistance, counseling, and legal representation.
- SARCC (Sexual Assault): Call the 24/7 hotline at (570) 628-2965 or visit sarccheals.org for counseling, advocacy, and healing support for survivors of sexual violence.
- Outside Schuylkill County: Residents across Pennsylvania can find their local domestic violence program at pcadv.org. You can also visit domesticshelters.org to find resources near you.
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