Man hit with spiked metal mace in Tamaqua

A Schuylkill Haven man has been accused of using a metal mace with spikes to threaten a man in Tamaqua on April 10.

Police were called to the area of Spruce and Hunter streets for two men fighting in the street at 9:10 p.m. When they arrived, the men were gone.

Five minutes later, another call came in, this time from a man who was at the intersection of Broad and Swatara streets. He said he was the victim of the assault in the Hunter Street area.

The victim said he was giving a ride to Jacob Ryan Gaburick, 30, of Schuylkill Haven, when the man suddenly punched him in the face. Gaburick then started swinging a stick topped with a metal head and spikes. The mace struck the victim in the leg and wrist. A stereo unit was broken and the victim’s Samsung Galaxy was stolen.

Gaburick was found a short time later at the intersection of Center and Cedar streets. He first claimed his last name was Ruddle. He also said he was struck by a car driven by the man who reported the assault.

The head of the mace and the Samsung phone were both found on his person.

He was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, possession of a prohibited offensive weapon, theft by unlawful taking and false identification to law enforcement.

Arraigned before duty District Magisterial Judge Christina Hale, he was placed in the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.