Washington man accused of assaulting wife, two days after initial incident
A Washington man was arrested Monday night by city police on an assault charge, about 48 hours after another incident in which police said his wife declined to press charges.
Brian Szafranski, 38, of 662 ½ Jefferson Ave. (Alley A), was arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson on a charge of simple assault for an alleged attack on 28-year-old Courtney Alderson at their home.
Police were called about 9:30 p.m. Monday for a report of a woman screaming for help. Alderson told police Szafranski, during an argument about Saturday’s incident, punched her in the ribs and pushed her to the floor. He also allegedly pulled her by the hair, and police said the staples that were placed in her head after police responded to the couple’s home Saturday were torn out of her scalp. Police said Alderson fought back and ran out of the home, but Szafranski allegedly dragged her back inside the house.
Alderson told police she might have blacked out at one point. There also was a child present during Monday’s incident, police said. Alderson was bleeding from her head and also had two black eyes and a cut on her hand. Police said it was difficult to determine which injuries were new and which were old.
Police said Szafranski fled and was apprehended near the intersection of Factory Way and Meadow Alley.
Police were called to the home about 9 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they said they found Alderson on the ground outside the house screaming and bleeding from the face. Police said there was a bonfire made of shingles burning in the yard, where liquor bottles also were found.
The back door to the house was open, and police could see the kitchen was in disarray, with broken dishes. Alderson reportedly told police she tripped and fell while trying to put out the fire. Szafranski told police she fell down the steps. She was taken to Washington Hospital, where she received treatment, including the staples.
The officer who responded Saturday noted in his report Alderson was not being cooperative. The fire department was called to put out the bonfire.
Alderson reportedly told police Monday she regretted the choice she made by refusing to cooperate with police two days earlier.
Police Chief Robert Wilson expects city police to file additional charges against Szafranski, who is free on $10,000 unsecured bond set by Thompson. Szafranski is scheduled for an Oct. 9 preliminary hearing before District Judge Robert Redlinger.