Man charged with assaulting pregnant woman

A Palmerton man has been charged with assaulting a woman who is eight months pregnant.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Timothy Kromer of the Palmerton Borough Police Department:

At 10:26 p.m. Feb. 6, Kromer, along with borough patrolmen Brian White, Adam Shimer and Jonathan Amanto were dispatched by the Carbon County Communications Center to a home in the 600 block of Princeton Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance, physical in nature.

Upon arrival, police heard a woman screaming inside the residence.

Police then entered the residence, and observed Robert Myers, 30, holding a small child.

The woman who was screaming said that Myers was attempting to leave with the child.

The woman said that Myers was aggravated upon returning home from being arrested by the police department for a DUI, and that he was screaming at her while she was on the phone with his sister.

The woman then yelled to his sister to call 911 and he pushed her on the bed and held her down.

The woman said that when she refused to give Myers her phone, he struck her in the face several times.

Kromer observed a significant amount of redness on the left side of the woman’s face and her left arm.

Police noted that the woman was eight months pregnant.

Myers was taken into custody and transported to the police station.

Myers denied striking the woman.

For that incident, Myers faces charges of simple assault and harassment.

Myers also faces charges for an incident that occurred the evening of Feb. 6 in the 700 block of West Princeton Avenue for a report of a motor vehicle accident.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Shimer:

Once in the area, Shimer observed a blue 2003 Honda that had struck three parked vehicles.

Shimer made contact with the driver, identified as Myers, who alleged his Honda had mechanical issues that caused the crash.

While interacting with Myers, Shimer observed his pupils to be abnormally dilated and his speech to be slow and lethargic.

Myers was taken into custody where he consented to a Drug Recognition Expert evaluation. It was suggested that Myers was under the influence, and recommended that he be taken for a legal blood draw. Myers refused to submit to a legal blood draw.

Myers’ driver’s privileges were found to be currently under suspension.

Myers also faces charges of DUI, driving under suspension, careless driving, reckless driving, drivers required to be licensed, and driving at safe speed.

Myers is incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $2,000 straight bail in each of the two cases, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing today before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.