Jul 13, 2015 3 min read

A North Strabane Township man was arrested Sunday morning after township police said he beat his 71-year-old father during a confrontation at their home.

David Lee Sumney II, 26, of 507 Hickory Circle, is charged with aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and harassment for allegedly assaulting his father, David Lee Sumney Sr.

Township police, who were called to the residence about 9:20 a.m., were at the home the previous week when the younger Sumney reportedly cut his wrists with swords. He also had several toy guns that looked real, police said.

Neighbors were outside their homes Sunday morning, pointing at the Sumney residence when police arrived. Police could hear a man inside, but no one would answer the door. Officer Gary Scherer went around the back of the house and yelled commands. That’s when Officer Ian Ging spotted the younger Sumney standing at the door with his hands behind the door. Ging saw blood and a person, later identified as the elder Sumney, on the floor. The younger Sumney was ordered outside, but police said he stood on the stoop and ignored commands. Police said he appeared to be intoxicated. Sumney sat down on the steps and was handcuffed.

Ging talked with the 26-year-old while Scherer started to administer first aid to the elder Sumney, trying to control bleeding on the man’s head until emergency medical personnel arrived. Neighbors told police the father told his son to get out. When his son started screaming, the father told him to come inside. The neighbors said they could hear banging and a commotion, with the father pleading with his son.

Police said they found about a dozen beer cans strewn throughout the kitchen. The younger Sumney reportedly told police he drank vodka and a dozen beers.

Police said they found blood on the inside of the front door, on the floor and on an overturned chair. The elder Sumney told police the two were arguing over a vacation schedule when his son pinned him against the front door and started striking him. Police later learned from the elder Sumney’s ex-wife, who is the younger Sumney’s mother, the 71-year-old was transferred from Canonsburg Hospital to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. She told police her former husband has spinal injuries, facial fractures and groin injuries.

The younger Sumney was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and placed in Washington County Jail on $30,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is set for July 26 before Weller.