A Schuylkill County man faces charges of terroristic threats and simple assault after police allege he repeatedly punched a man and threatened to bury his body in the woods.
Walter E. Ridall Jr., 64, of Gilberton, was charged following an incident that police say occurred around 9 a.m. on May 7, on Quality Hill Rd.
Police in Frackville say the victim reported that he was sitting in the back of a parked vehicle when Ridall approached him and began hitting him multiple times about the head and face with a closed fist. The victim told police he did not fight back but covered his head and face defensively.
During the assault, police say Ridall threatened the victim by saying he would bury him in the woods where no one would find him or be able to identify his body.
The incident was initially reported to police in the station parking lot at 4:45 p.m. by the victim’s father. The father told police the assault was believed to be retaliation for a theft in which the victim was a suspect. According to the father’s statement to police, the victim had named Ridall as being involved in that theft when previously questioned by police.
The victim later arrived at the police station at 6:15 p.m. with two witnesses who were present during the assault. Police say both witnesses corroborated the victim’s details of the incident.
Ridall is charged with one misdemeanor count of terroristic threats, one misdemeanor count of simple assault, and one summary count of harassment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 17 before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli.
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