Domestic leads to jail time
A Tamaqua man spent several days in the Schuylkill County prison in Pottsville in connection with a domestic assault in Tamaqua on June 6.
Police were called to the Turkey Hill Minit Mart on East Broad Street where they met with a woman who said she had been assaulted by Blaine Kirchner, 55, of the 200 block of Cedar Street.
The victim said she and Kirchner were arguing over a cellphone pin number when he suddenly dragged her into the house, punched her in the ear, pulled her hair, ripped her clothes and struck her over the head with a kitchen stool. There was a visible bruise below her right ear.
Officers went to Kirchner’s home, where they found a key ring on the first step leading to the front door. A diamond earring was stuck in a ruffled carpet on the landing. Knocking on the doors brought no response from inside the home.
The victim gave police permission to enter and a search determined the house was empty.
Kirchner was found a short time later at a local bar.
He was arraigned before duty District Magisterial Judge James Ferrier, of Orwigsburg, on charges of simple assault and harassment. The judge set bail at $10,000 straight cash, which he was unable to post until June 11.
