A Schuylkill County man is free on bail after police say he threw a saw horse at a woman during an argument.
Police in Pottsville say they were called to a home in the 2200 block of W. Market St. on Sunday evening for a reported disturbance. At the scene, police spoke with a woman who was bleeding from her knee and calf and whose feet were covered in paint.
The alleged victim of this incident told police that Andrew Sweyko, 58, of Pottsville was in her garage to remove some of his belongings. When she went to check on Sweyko’s progress in that task, she said she found him trashing her stuff and dumping paint inside the garage.
When he was confronted about his actions, an argument followed and it turned physical when Sweyko allegedly picked up a metal saw horse and threw it at the victim, hitting her in the leg.
Police say they spoke with Sweyko at the scene. He was sweating and covered in paint, officers say. Initially, police say Sweyko denied hitting the victim with the saw horse. However, when asked if he threw the saw horse, Sweyko allegedly responded, “I don’t know, probably. I threw a lot of stuff.”
During a search incident to arrest, police say they found a “makeshift snorting straw” with powder residue inside. Sweyko said it was a broken pen.
Police charged Sweyko with simple assault, harassment, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley later Sunday night. Reiley set bail at 10% of $5,000, which Sweyko posted and was released from custody. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 15.
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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