MOUNT CARMEL - A borough teen has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend and punching her puppy.
Tyler Michael Wondoloski, 19, of 802 W. Fifth St., remains in Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail after being arraigned Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones on charges of simple assault, harassment and cruelty to animals related to the December incident.
Wondoloski was among five teens injured last March in a DUI-related accident near Mount Carmel Area Elementary School.
Cpl. Christopher Buhay said Wondoloski, who suffered broken vertebrae in his back and possibly torn muscles as a result of the March 28 accident in Beaverdale, is accused of hitting, pushing and throwing around his
girlfriend, Theresa Freeman, causing her head to strike a wall at her aunt's home at 221 S. Oak St. at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 5. Police said Freeman suffered red marks and swelling around the front of her neck.
Freeman told police Wondoloski also removed a puppy from her arms and began punching it before throwing the dog across the room. Police said the puppy wasn't seriously injured.
Wondoloski was found riding a bicycle near Mount Carmel Area High School and taken into custody. He denied doing anything wrong and claimed Freeman assaulted him.
The defendant was initially placed in the county jail on a probation detainer before his arraignment earlier this week. He is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing Wednesday before Jones.
Wondoloski and three other victims in the accident on Locust Gap Highway have sued Victor E. Swaboski III, 39, of Mount Carmel, who was charged by Mount Carmel Township police with multiple DUI-related charges, and Brewser's SportsGrille in Coal Township, where Swaboski was a patron on the night of the accident. The civil suits claim negligence against Swaboski and the restaurant and seek monetary rewards.