Nesquehoning arrest reported

Nesquehoning police reported the arrest of a borough resident for assault and use of a firearm in the incident. The incident occurred on Friday, June 11, and started about 3:28 a.m.

Police said Nicholas D. Keiser, 31, of 18 E. Catawissa St., has been charged with firearms not to be carried without a license, two counts of simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.

Officer Brian D. White responded to the area of the former Albi's Pizza along SR93 to a report of assault. At the scene White found Keiser and Paul Walck, of Nesquehoning. White learned that Keiser was giving Walck a ride when he pulled in front the pizza restaurant. Walck was on his cell phone and when he hung up Keiser pulled out a handgun, which he had in his waistband and pointed it at the victim. He then knocked Walck's cell phone out of his hand and told Walck to put his hands on the dash.

At this point Keiser said he was going to call police when Walck began fighting with him.

During the struggle Keiser struck Walck with the handgun, causing an open gash to the left top of the victim's forehead. Walck tried to get out of the vehicle but Keiser grabbed his sweatshirt and pulled him out through the passenger side. Once outside Keiser told White that he threw the gun to the ground. He said he then wrestled Walck to the ground and got his cell phone and called 9-1-1.

White said Walck had a wound to the head which he first refused medical treatment. White call for an ambulance because Walck was bleeding.

White learned the altercation began when Keiser accused Walck of being one of a group that assaulted a friend of his earlier in the evening in the borough. The gun was described as being a .45-caliber Firestorm 1911.

White was assisted at the scene by Jim Thorpe police officer Michaelangelo Bokeko.