A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Bethlehem man accused of injuring a woman’s knee and hitting her with a guitar during a domestic altercation earlier this week.
Police in Pottsville say they responded to an apartment building in the 300 block of Mahantongo St. at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday for a reported disturbance. At the scene, police say they spoke with a woman who says that her ex, Luis Morales, 33, of Bethlehem, was in town and they were trying to work things out between them.
An argument between the two turned physical at some point after Morales began cursing at her and then put her in a leg hold, putting pressure on her leg to the point that the victim heard her knee pop and caused substantial pain, police say.
As the victim attempted to get to the door of her apartment, she told police that Morales grabbed her, dragged her to the bedroom, and then smashed a small guitar over her head before hitting her repeatedly.
Police say the victim had injuries consistent with her side of the story and they saw a broken guitar on the floor.
A noise in the hallway of the apartment building apparently spooked Morales and he fled the scene before police arrived, the victim said.
Morales is facing misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint causing serious bodily injury and simple assault.
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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