A West Mahanoy Township man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after a domestic incident in Minersville.
According to court documents filed through Magisterial District Judge Dave Plachko's office by Minersville Ptm. Cody Searfoss, on Wednesday, June 12th, 2024, he was dispatched to 627 North Second Street in Minersville for a report of a domestic.
The call came in from a neighbor after the victim messaged them stating "I need help, He's here and won't let me leave".
Ptm. Searfoss arrived at the scene and knocked on the rear door of the home. A few moments later, the victim ran out of the home. Ptm. Searfoss immediately noticed multiple bruises and injuries, which included a black eye, hematomas to the back of her head, bruising on her right hand, red marks on her neck, bruises and scratches on her back.
The victim said Christopher Zukas, 33, of William Penn, West Mahanoy Township, trapped her in the attic by using a couch to block the door, and wouldn't let her leave the room. The victim said Zukas punched her in the face, head, and all over her body. He also scratched her back with a razor and grabbed her throat.
Zukas was taken into custody and was found in possession of methamphetamine. He also had an arrest warrant for violating a previous protection from abuse order.
The victim was transported to the hospital for her injuries.
Zukas was charged with aggravated assault, strangulation, false imprisonment, simple assault, possession of a controlled substance, and harassment.
He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on a combined $120,000 straight cash bail. $20,000 on these charges and $100,000 on a separate case.
He remains in prison waiting for a preliminary hearing which is scheduled for July 9th, 2024.
UPDATE: The bail in this story was updated from its original posting.