May 26, 2017 2 min read

Assault charges: Joshua Joe Walter, 33, of 662 Lippencott Road, Morgan Township, was charged by state police with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and harassment after allegedly punching a woman in the head and pointing a loaded shotgun at the woman’s daughter early Thursday morning at his residence. Walter had been drinking that night and argued with Connie Patterson over his returning to the bar. Police said that just before 1 a.m., Walter allegedly left Patterson’s bedroom to get a shotgun and made comments about blowing his head off, before going outside and firing off a round, the criminal complaint said. Police said Walter then allegedly returned to Patterson’s bedroom, punched her in the head three times and dragged her out of her bed by her feet. Patterson’s daughter, Katie Areford, then confronted Walter, who allegedly had the shotgun in his mouth, the complaint said. Police said Walter then allegedly pointed the gun at Areford and told her to get away. Police said another man in the house, Daniel Whipkey III, was able to get the gun away from Walter and put it in shrubs near the house. Police said that when they arrived, Walter had fled into the woods. The gun, loaded with six shells, was recovered along with a spent casing found near the porch.

Terroristic threats charge: Jeffrey Emil Bechen Jr., 28, of 171 W. Locust Alley, Waynesburg, was charged by Waynesburg police with terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment following a domestic dispute Wednesday evening. Police said Bechen allegedly argued with his girlfriend, Norma Riley, at her residence in the 100 block of West Elm Street about 7 p.m. Riley told police that Bechen choked her until she almost passed out, threatened to kill her and slammed her on the ground, hitting her head off their 4-month-old daughter’s crib. Police found Bechen standing next to the baby, who was sleeping in her crib. Bechen told police that he and Riley argued, but he denied the allegations that he became physical with her.