A Schuylkill County woman is charged with assault after police say she punched a Turkey Hill employee in the face three times in the store’s parking lot last month.
Joellina Poff, 21, of Ashland, faces charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Police were called to the Turkey Hill in Ashland around 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30 for a report that an employee had been assaulted.
The employee told police it is an ongoing issue for Poff to come into the store and harass her. She said Poff came in that day and, while leaving, told her to “stick that Band Aid up your a**.”
The employee said she followed Poff out of the store and told her to leave. Once they were in the parking lot, she said, Poff took out her phone to record, then punched her in the face three times and called her a “fat b****.”
The officer noted a small cut on the employee’s nose. Police also allege Poff hit the employee with her phone, causing the cut.
The officer then went to Poff’s home on Centre St. to speak with her. Poff told police the employee had been making comments about her and her boyfriend, then followed her out of the store and started to chest bump her. Poff said that is when she hit the employee in the face.
Police say Poff admitted to everything the employee claimed.
Both women declined to be seen by EMS and were told to stay away from each other for the time being.
Security footage reviewed by police did not capture the whole altercation. The video shows the employee following Poff out of the store and the two appearing to get face to face in the parking lot. The rest of the footage shows both women moving in and out of frame, and the video has no audio.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9 before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli in Frackville.
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