A Lehigh County man was jailed in Pottsville this week and is facing charges after police say he unexpectedly entered a Shenandoah apartment and threatened to kill another man with a screwdriver.
Alfredo De Lo Santos De Leon, 38, of Allentown, is accused of brandishing the tool during a March 22 altercation on S. Lehigh St.
Police say they were dispatched to a reported disturbance at a top-floor apartment at about 2:30 p.m. that day. Officers arrived to find the building’s front door and the apartment’s interior doors open.
A female resident told police her ex-husband, identified as De Lo Santos De Leon, arrived at the residence and threatened her current boyfriend. Police say the woman, communicating with police through a translation app, said the two men got into a verbal argument before De Lo Santos De Leon fled in a blue Honda Civic.
As police were leaving the area, they were flagged down by the victim, who had left the apartment prior to the officers’ arrival. The victim told police he was home with his girlfriend and her mother when De Lo Santos De Leon unexpectedly entered the residence.
According to police, the victim alleged De Lo Santos De Leon drew a screwdriver, brandished it as a weapon, and yelled threats to kill him before fleeing in the vehicle.
The victim told police this was the second time De Lo Santos De Leon had shown up at the home to make threats against him, but the first time an incident involved a weapon.
De Lo Santos De Leon was arraigned Thursday on charges of simple assault and making terroristic threats before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli, who set bail at 10% of $5,000 and remanded him to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing before Judge Anthony Kilker is scheduled for May 21.
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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