A Schuylkill County woman is accused of attacking a man with a baseball bat to stop him from calling 9-1-1 during a domestic dispute.
Brittany Reese, 35, of Pottsville, faces one misdemeanor count of simple assault and one summary count of harassment. She was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
Police say they responded to a residence on S. 9th St. shortly after 7 p.m. on June 20 for a reported domestic disturbance. Dispatchers advised that a 36-year-old man was actively being assaulted and that a baseball bat was involved.
Upon arrival, police found the victim, Reese, and three juvenile children outside the home. Police say the victim had a bloody mouth and large red marks on his back consistent with being struck by an object. Reese had an injury near her left eyebrow, which she told police was caused by the victim punching her in the face.
The victim told police the altercation began when Reese entered the bathroom holding a baseball bat and confronted him regarding money allegedly leaving his bank account. He said she first struck him with the butt end of the bat before swinging it at him.
During a struggle to leave the bathroom, the victim admitted to punching Reese in the face, police say. The victim told police that after he distanced himself and attempted to call 9-1-1, Reese struck him in the back multiple times with the bat.
The victim also alleged that while he was on the phone with emergency dispatchers, Reese placed her fingers inside his mouth to prevent him from speaking, causing bleeding and injuries to his mouth.
Reese told police the argument was related to financial issues and claimed the victim had been consuming alcohol since 9 a.m. When asked how the physical altercation began, Reese stated she was defending herself. According to police, Reese denied having a bat in her hand and told police she pushed the victim to get away from him, suggesting he probably fell in the bathtub.
Police recovered a baseball bat from inside the home near where the altercation took place and observed a small amount of blood on the bathroom wall. Police say they held the bat up to the marks on the victim’s back to confirm they matched. Both parties declined medical attention.
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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