Handgun pulled during argument in Tamaqua

Joshua Robert McArdle, 27, of Arlington Street, Tamaqua, was placed in the Schuylkill County prison in Pottsville on Aug. 20 after brandishing a handgun during an argument on West Broad Street.

Police were called to the unit block of West Broad Street at 1:07 a.m. and spoke with a man who said he had been involved in an altercation with McArdle, when McArdle pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the victim and said “Do you ever want to see your daughter again?” McArdle then fled on foot.

He was found a short time later walking in the area of Washington and Clay streets. He had his hands in his waistband and was wearing a backpack. Officers recovered a .38 caliber Derringer from McArdle’s waistband and multiple empty baggies, three purple bags with a crushed crystal-like substance, a glass pipe, a knife, and a tan pill inscribed M 757 in his backpack.

The crystal substance field tested positive for methamphetamine.

The handgun had its serial number altered.

McArdle was arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer, of Tamaqua, on charges of carrying a prohibited weapon, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing an instrument of crime, committing a crime with a firearm, altering identification on a handgun, aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bail was set at $10,000 straight, which he was unable to post.