Two charged for Lansford incident

Joseph Schminkey, 39, of 2 Oak St., Lansford, and Anthony Carlino, 50, of Tamaqua, both face charges from an incident which took place on Feb. 19 at 1 Oak St., Lansford. Charges were filed by Officer Robert Shubeck.

Schminkey is charged with simple assault and two counts of harassment. Carlino is charged with defiant trespass and harassment.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Shubeck and Officer Helmer were dispatched to 1 Oak St. for a domestic problem with an unwanted person inside.

Upon arrival they were met outside by the complainant, Joseph Schminkey. Police learned that people were throwing snowballs and icicles inside his house and that an altercation had taken place between Schminkey, who is the homeowner, and Carlino, a guest, who had suffered a broken nose.

Upon investigation, Schminkey said Carlino started the whole incident by giving a 4-year-old icicles to throw in the house. Schminkey said Carlino was told to stop but refused. He was told to leave if he continued, but Carlino did not listen and kept throwing the ice. Schminkey said he was showing another person how to disassemble a handgun when Carlino went outside and got a big icicle and threw it at him, hitting both Schminkey and the other person.

After being hit in the face with the icicle, Schminkey said he told Carlino to leave several times and tried to escort him out of the house. Carlino raised his fist to him, Schminkey said, and that's when Schminkey, fearing for his safety, hit Carlino in the nose.

Carlino told police he was hanging out and drinking beer when some younger children began throwing ice and snowballs inside the house.

Carlino also began throwing ice and snowballs, at which time Schminkey became angry and tossed a case of beer over the bar and came after Carlino. Carlino said Schminkey began punching him in the face.

Carlino was bleeding from the nose, and later sought medical attention. He did suffer a broken nose.