An Ashland man is free on bail after being taken into custody for assaulting a woman early Monday morning.
According to Ashland Police, around 7:30am, on December 5th, 2022, police officers were called to the 1300 Block of Walnut Street for a report of a man beating a woman. When police arrived, they spoke with a witness that said the incident occurred in the rear of 1331 Walnut where a male was on top of woman beating her in the alley.
The woman involved had fled towards Turkey Hill yelling for help with the male running back inside.
Ashland Police Chief Ger Daley went to Turkey Hill where they found the woman, bloodied and bruised, in the back room of the store.
Chief Daley learned that the woman and 30-year-old Joel Stephany Jr. had been fighting and while he attempted to get her cell phone, he tackled her.
Police went back to 1331 Walnut Street where they took Stephany into custody for domestic violence.
Stephany was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli on charges of simple assault and harassment. Stephany was locked up briefly on $15,000 straight cash bail and released after posting bail later that day.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 14th, 2022, before Judge Tarantelli.