Coaldale man charged in Tamaqua assault

A Coaldale man was charged in connection with an assault in Tamaqua on Feb. 24.

Craig Filer, 30, of 114 E. High St., Tamaqua, was arraigned on two felony counts of aggravated assault, along with misdemeanor counts of possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault and harassment before District Magisterial Judge Stephen Bayer on March 26.

According to the affidavit, Filer was at the Citizens Fire Company early that morning when he took exception to a heated conversation between two men. He suddenly pulled one of the men from his bar stool and began hitting him. At one point, he struck the victim with what a witness described as a silver hand gun.

When police arrived, the victim was on the floor, bleeding from a head wound. He appeared to be semiconscious and was transported to St. Luke’s Miners Hospital for medical treatment. He was released several hours later after receiving stitches.

Filer does have a concealed carry permit.

Bayer set bail at $50,000 unsecured.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 24 before Judge Bayer.