A Schuylkill County man is facing charges after he allegedly assaulted a T-Mobile store employee, attempted to steal a phone, and vandalized the store while under the influence late last year.
Eric Morales-Barreto, 36, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody following the incident at the T-Mobile location on S. Main St. on Dec. 27. He has been charged with felony burglary along with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, theft, and disorderly conduct, along with summary counts of harassment and public drunkenness.
Troopers from State Police-Frackville responded to the store shortly before 11 a.m. for a reported assault. At the scene, police say they interviewed the victim, a store employee, who reportedly said a man wearing a red sweatshirt and jeans had entered the business around 10:45 a.m.
The assailant – later identified by police as Morales-Barreto – appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance, police say. He allegedly began asking for a “free phone” and showed the employee a broken phone. Morales-Barreto reportedly claimed his aunt had ordered a phone on eBay at a barbershop and accused the employee of stealing it.
Morales-Barreto allegedly went to the back of the store five minutes after his first interaction there and engaged in a “tussle” with the employee. During the altercation, Morales-Barreto forcibly took the victim’s personal iPhone 14, police allege.
The victim told police he placed Morales-Barreto in a headlock and slammed him to the ground to retrieve the phone, dazing the suspect. The employee then fled to a neighboring business to call 911, reporting that Morales-Barreto was “asleep” inside the store.
When the employee returned, he discovered Morales-Barreto had woken up and allegedly “trashed the store,” according to a police account of the incident. Morales-Barreto reportedly hid inside the store for several minutes before fleeing on foot.
Using a description provided by the victim and information regarding Morales-Barreto’s known associates, Troopers say they responded to the suspect’s last known address on S. White St. Morales-Barreto was located at a nearby residence.
Police said Morales-Barreto had a large, fresh laceration on his face and was wearing clothes matching the victim’s description. He was also holding a broken phone.
Morales-Barreto was reportedly unable to answer basic questions, appeared lethargic and incoherent, and repeatedly asked police if he was okay.
Morales-Barreto was taken into custody for the incident at T-Mobile as well as an active arrest warrant from a separate case. He was evaluated by EMS at the Frackville barracks and subsequently transported to Lehigh Valley Medical Center-East in Pottsville for treatment of his facial injury and impairment.
Morales-Barreto was arraigned on the charges related to the T-Mobile incident before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli. Tarantelli set bail at $75,000 and Morales-Barreto was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 29 before Judge Anthony Kilker.
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