A man who was reportedly stabbed during a fight in Saint Clair last week is now facing assault charges himself.
Brenden Vito, 19, of Coopersburg in Lehigh County, is facing two misdemeanor counts of simple assault, along with summary offenses of disorderly conduct and harassment.
Police say the charges stem from a June 11 altercation that left Vito with stab wounds. The man accused of stabbing him, 18-year-old Chaze Anthony Cholminski, remains in Schuylkill County Prison on $150,000 bail facing felony aggravated assault and weapons charges.
The incident began around 8 p.m. when police were dispatched to 126 N. Second St. for a fight in progress. Arriving police found Vito sitting just up the street with a blood-soaked shirt, holding his left rib cage. He was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-East in Pottsville for medical attention.
While at the hospital, Vito told police he had gone to that N. Second St. residence with a pizza after being told to “pull up” during a TikTok live video. Vito said he became upset upon seeing Cholminski at the home, leading to a verbal argument.
During an investigation into the stabbing, Cholminski told police that Vito became angry and began “staring him down” after noticing hickeys on his neck.
Vito told police the two were “in each other’s face” before he shoved Cholminski, sparking a physical altercation.
A juvenile female at the scene told police she tried to break up the fight but was unsuccessful. She alleged Vito ripped her to the ground by her hair, causing her to hit a hard surface and suffer a head injury.
The female also told police that during the altercation, Vito ended up on top of Cholminski and struck him in the face. Cholminski told police he was hit in the face approximately eight times during the fight.
Police concluded Vito engaged in a mutual fight and attempted to cause or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily injury to both Cholminski and the female. A preliminary hearing for Vito is scheduled for July 28 before Senior Magisterial District Judge Edward Lewis.
RELATED ARTICLE: Schuylkill County Man, 18, Charged with Stabbing Man in Fight Over Girlfriend, Hickeys
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