A Berks County man was jailed and faces assault and drug charges after police say he slapped and spit on his girlfriend during an argument earlier this month. Police say they also found him in possession of suspected meth and weed.
Police in Pottsville say they responded to a reported domestic dispute in the 1000 block of W. Norwegian St. shortly after 10 p.m. on April 19. At the scene, police say, Donald Whitmoyer, 30, of Reading, and a woman arguing in the street.
Police say the woman was visibly upset and trembling, with spit in her hair and running down her forehead. The woman told police that she and Whitmoyer, whom she identified as her boyfriend, were arguing when he slapped the right side of her face and spit in her face multiple times. Police say the woman complained of soreness to the right side of her face.
Whitmoyer was taken into police custody for simple assault. During a search incident to the arrest, police say they located a knotted baggie containing a crystal substance, which Whitmoyer told officers was meth. Police say they also found an Airheads wrapper containing what Whitmoyer said was weed.
Additionally, police say the search yielded a $1 bill containing a crystal substance, a red and gold grinder, four burnt blunts in a package, and a black plastic container with more suspected weed.
The items were taken back to City Hall, where police say field tests yielded a positive reaction for meth on the crystal substance and a positive reaction for marijuana.
Police charged Whitmoyer with simple assault, harassment, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for personal use, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Whitmoyer was arraigned on these charges before Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel and remanded to Schuylkill County Prison on $10,000 bail.
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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