Man accused of assaulting girlfriend as she drove
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A tip Thursday night led to the arrest of a man wanted by South Strabane Township police for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend last month as she drove, nearly causing her to crash the van in which their 3-year-old son was passenger. Robert William Welsh III, 30, of 689 N. Main St., Washington, was wanted on a warrant obtained by township police on two counts each of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment and one count each of simple assault, endangering the welfare of children and harassment. Police received a tip that Welsh was at a home in the 800 block of Addison Street. Washington police responded and took him into custody. Welsh is accused of assaulting Joy Frantz, 32, of Washington, Sept. 7 and then twice almost causing her to crash the van she was driving. Frantz told police she was driving Welsh to work when they got into an argument about money. He reportedly became belligerent and demanded that she take him back home. While they were in the 100 block of Berry Road, the argument escalated, police said. Welsh reportedly told Frantz he wished she were dead. He then spat in her face, knocked the rearview mirror off the windshield of the van Frantz was driving and kicked the windshield until it broke, police said. Welsh allegedly punched Frantz in the side of head, face and arm, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her toward the passenger seat as he tried to grab the steering wheel, sending the van in the direction of oncoming traffic. Frantz told Welsh she was going to call police. After Frantz turned onto Oak Springs Road, Welsh allegedly threw a lit cigarette in her face. He again grabbed the steering wheel and put his foot down on hers as he tried to run the vehicle off the road, police said. Frantz told police she was able to stop the van. He got out and ran. She then notified police. Welsh was arraigned on the charges before District Judge Robert Redlinger and placed in the Washington County jail on $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 22 before District Judge Jay Weller.