A Schuylkill County man was jailed Sunday after police say he struck his 28-week pregnant fiancée in the abdomen with a hammer, causing premature labor.
Akeem Smith, 25, of Pottsville, is being held in Schuylkill County Prison on $400,000 bail. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel on Sunday morning and charged with a first-degree felony count of aggravated assault of an unborn child, two additional counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, and harassment.
State Police say their investigation began the evening of June 27 when Smith reported his license plate had been stolen from his vehicle at a home in Frailey Township. Smith told police he had security footage showing his fiancée removing the plate.
Police contacted the woman by phone and learned she was being evaluated at Geisinger-St.Luke’s Hospital near Orwigsburg because she was 28 weeks pregnant and had not eaten in several days. The woman told police she took the license plate following a physical altercation with Smith on June 26.
During an interview at the hospital emergency room, the woman told police Smith arrived at her Pottsville home, knocked on her window, and showed her a video of himself engaging in sexual intercourse with another woman. The woman told police she went outside to confront him and threw a hammer at his vehicle. She initially reported that Smith responded by grabbing her shirt, causing a minor neck abrasion. She told police her breathing was not impeded and stated she did not want Smith to go to jail.
Police later interviewed Smith, who denied the woman’s accusation. Smith told police he had only gone to the home to retrieve his belongings after the woman moved them outside.
Police contacted the woman again early Sunday morning. After police informed her the vehicle was registered solely in Smith’s name and that he no longer wanted to be involved with her, the woman reported further injuries. She told police Smith had struck her in the abdomen and leg with a hammer.
The woman provided police with photographs showing two large black-and-blue bruises on her lower left abdomen and upper left thigh. Police say the bruises contained rounded indentations consistent with the head of a hammer. The woman told police she had called emergency medical services on the morning of June 26 after being struck.
The woman also provided police with a synopsis of her ER visit. Police say her diagnosis included an abdominal wall contusion hematoma, abdominal trauma in pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes, and premature labor. Hospital staff advised the woman to be transferred to a hospital in Allentown, but she refused. Police say medical staff warned her that refusing transport carried risks including death, loss of current function, and loss of pregnancy.
Police took Smith into custody shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 6.
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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