A Schuylkill County man faces a felony aggravated assault charge after police say he struck a man from behind, fracturing his jaw and skull during an early morning incident in Tamaqua.
Jaeden Chalk, 18, of Tamaqua, was charged by police following an incident on Friday, Aug. 7, near Mundy’s Pub at the intersection of S. Greenwood and Cedar streets.
Officers responded to the area shortly after 2 a.m. for a report of an unconscious man bleeding from the head. Upon arrival, officers found the victim lying partially in the roadway being tended to by bystanders, suffering from heavy facial bleeding with a pool of blood next to his head.
Tamaqua Ambulance rendered aid at the scene. Police said the victim later gave them hospital paperwork showing he suffered a broken jaw, a skull fracture near his ear canal, and required seven stitches to his chin as a result of the assault.
Witnesses told police the victim had been involved in an interaction minutes earlier near the Hazle St. railroad tracks with two younger males. The two males walked down toward Mundy’s Pub, where the victim approached them carrying a brick, according to police. After an exchange of words, the victim dropped the brick and walked past the group onto Cedar St., police said.
Witnesses reported seeing the two males follow the victim out of view before both fled the area on foot, according to police.
Investigators say they later obtained security footage from the perimeter of Mundy’s Pub. The video reportedly shows the victim dropping the brick and walking away after being pushed by the other male. Police say the video then showed Chalk and the second male approaching the victim from behind as he walked down Cedar St., where Chalk threw a single punch striking the victim on the right side of his face. The impact caused the victim to fall and strike his face against the curb before both men ran away, according to police.
Later that evening, just before 7 p.m., Chalk arrived at the Tamaqua Police Sept. accompanied by his father. During an interview, Chalk admitted to striking the victim once, telling police he believed the victim was still holding the brick and acted in self-defense before panicking and running home.
Chalk is charged with one first-degree felony count of aggravated assault and one second-degree misdemeanor count of simple assault.
Chalk was arraigned this morning before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and released on $10,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 before Bayer.
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