A Schuylkill County man and a woman are behind bars after police say they ambushed a man inside a Pine Grove Township home, beating him with a set of metal knuckles.
Mikhail Newburg, 27, and Cassaundra Smith, 30, both of Pine Grove, were taken into custody on Friday, Jan. 2, following an investigation by State Police.
According to the court documents, police were dispatched at about 4:30 p.m. to Dominic’s Pizza Restaurant on E. Pottsville St. in Pine Grove. There, investigators found the victim suffering from a severely swollen face and an actively bleeding laceration on his forehead.
Police said the victim’s white sweater and jacket were covered in blood.
The victim told troopers he had been at Smith’s residence on Whispering Pines Blvd. earlier that day. After he left, Smith contacted him and requested he return. The victim told police he was reluctant but agreed to go back.
Upon entering the home, the victim said Smith greeted him but prevented him from entering the kitchen, insisting instead that he go upstairs. The victim reportedly told police he felt he was “being set up.”
While downstairs, the victim told investigators he saw a man – later identified as Newburg – in the kitchen wearing a black beanie and black coat. The victim said Newburg “bear-hugged” him, carried him through the living room, and threw him to the floor near the front door.
The victim told police Newburg then struck him in the head, shoulders, and back using metal knuckles. He was eventually able to escape the home and drive to the pizza shop to call 911.
The victim identified the attacker as an employee of the Speedway Gas Station in Pine Grove Township. Troopers interviewed the station’s assistant manager, who confirmed Newburg was an employee.
The manager told police Newburg had sent him messages stating he was “involved in something” and “would be going to jail.” He also told police Newburg was living with him but would often stay at Smith’s house, though she would never bring him there when her boyfriend was home.
Troopers say they executed a search warrant at the Whispering Pines residence at about 7 p.m. Police said they seized a pair of silver-colored metal knuckles, along with the victim’s wallet and cell phone. Both Smith and Newburg were taken into custody at the scene.
During police interviews, both defendants admitted Newburg was hiding in the home but provided differing accounts of the altercation.
Newburg reportedly told police Smith had invited him over to “vent about her life.” When the victim arrived, Newburg said Smith instructed him to “hide in the kitchen and be quiet.” Newburg allegedly admitted he could feel “tension in the room” and claimed Smith body-checked the victim to keep him away from the kitchen.
Newburg also reportedly told investigators he eventually stepped out and confronted the victim. He admitted to placing his arm around the victim to escort him out, which led to a physical struggle. Newburg stated he “jumped to a full mount position” on top of the victim and said it was possible that he hit him, noting he saw blood on the floor.
Smith provided a different version of events. She told police Newburg had been hiding in her child’s bedroom upstairs, not the kitchen. She alleged that the victim pushed her, leading to a verbal argument. She claimed Newburg came out of the bedroom and she saw the two men exchange strikes.
Smith told police she then went into the bathroom, shut the door, and turned on the fan “so she did not hear anything between Newburg and (the victim),” police state in their affidavit. She stated that when she emerged, the victim was gone.
Smith and Newburg have been charged with a felony count of aggravated assault, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault, one count each of reckless endangerment, and a summary count each of harassment. Newburg faces an additional misdemeanor weapons charge.
Both defendants were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker. Judge Kilker set bail at $50,000 cash for each defendant. They were remanded to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post bail.
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