EMPORIUM (EC) — Three individuals have been charged following an altercation that took place in the Borough of Emporium earlier this month.
Michael E. Hallowell, age 48, Dana Lee Grovanz, age 35, and Christopher James Grovanz, age 37, have each been charged with a felony count of rioting with the intent to commit a felony for the incident alleged to have occurred on April 12 near the intersection of Fourth and Broad streets. Hallowell also faces two additional misdemeanor counts of simple assault. Dana Grovanz will face one count of simple assault. Christopher J. Grovanz faces four additional simple assault charges. All are charged with a number of related summaries.
The affidavit of probable cause on file for Hallowell at Magisterial District Judge Barry Brown’s office indicates that Hallowell stopped in the middle of the street while lighting a cigarette, and the victim honked his car horn to get him to move. Hallowell is said to have moved but shouted profanities at the driver, court records allege.
The victim circled the block and got out to confront Hallowell at the intersection of Broad Street and Soft Serve Lane. Hallowell and the victim then allegedly engaged in a physical altercation. The victim knocked Hallowell down, then stated he told him, “it was a stupid thing to fight over he was done fighting and apologized,” read the affidavit of probable cause.
According to the affidavit, the victim began to walk away from the three defendants, when Hallowell grabbed a shovel that was leaning up against a nearby building and allegedly struck the victim from behind, in the ribs, causing injury. The victim said he disarmed the defendant, then was allegedly hit again with the shovel by Hallowell’s girlfriend, Dana Grovanz. At that point, the victim stated that he punched Dana Grovanz to keep her from hitting him with the shovel again, and he was allegedly attacked by her brother, Christopher J. Grovanz, court records read.
The affidavit then indicates that “while trying to escape from being beaten and attacked, the three of them together knocked the victim on the ground and began stomping and kicking the (victim) in the head and face, causing bodily harm.”
Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for all three defendants at 10:30 a.m. on June 1 in front of Brown. No bail or attorney information was available at press time.
