Domestic dispute leads to arrest

A domestic dispute that turned physical has led to charges against a Palmerton couple.

According to the affidavit filed by patrolman Brian Stern of the Palmerton Police Department:

At 6:43 p.m. Dec. 6, Stern was dispatched to a home in the 100 block of Columbia Avenue for a domestic disturbance.

Dispatch advised that the caller, Donald Grow, 60, had been assaulted by his wife, Edwina Grow, 42, and he was thinking about killing her with his bare hands, and that he would be waiting outside.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with Donald, who was sitting on the front steps of his apartment.

He told police he and his wife got into a verbal argument that turned physical when Edwina punched him in the face multiple times, and he hit her back in self-defense.

Donald had a small lump on the right side of his face, swelling to the left side of his cheek, and dried blood under his nose, on his lip and inside his mouth.

He admitted that both parties were drunk.

Officers then went into the home and spoke with Edwina, who was in the bedroom. She said the argument started out verbal, but quickly turned physical.

Edwina said “we both just beat the (crap) out of each other.”

Edwina was then taken into custody.

When police returned to the station, Stern noticed a lump on the right side of Edwina’s forehead, and she also had bruising and swelling under her right eye.

When Stern spoke with Donald again, he noticed bruising and red marks on his knuckles, and when he asked how it happened, Donald said it was from hitting her back in self-defense.

Donald then stated “we beat each other up.”

Both face charges of simple assault.

Edwina is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,500 straight bail, while Donald is currently free on summons.

Both are scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Jan. 15 before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.