Kane man jailed on assault allegations
A Kane man is in McKean County Jail after allegedly causing facial fractures to another man by punching him.
Ryan J. Thomas, 30, of 518 Haines St., was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge William Todd on charges of aggravated assault, a first-degree felony; simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor; and harassment, a summary charge.
The criminal complaint states that at 9:15 p.m. Sept. 29, Kane Borough Police were dispatched to 317 Reynolds St., where they discovered a large party taking place in the backyard and a male — James Hicks Jr. — sitting in a chair on the sidewalk. Hicks was bleeding, and there was blood pooled on the sidewalk.
One witness reported to police that he watched Thomas strike Hicks in the face, causing Hicks to fall to the ground, but he did not see Hicks take any action against Thomas. Thomas then fled on foot.
The officer was able to locate Thomas, who was “visibly intoxicated” in the 400 block of Janeway Street; Thomas said he punched Hicks but said it was only after Hicks grabbed him by the throat, court records stated. The officer also took two knives from Thomas’s pocket for safety reasons.
The officer took Thomas to the scene in an attempt “to verify that Thomas was the aggressor,” and he took photographs of superficial scratches on Thomas’s neck, the criminal complaint stated. Thomas was advised that he would be charged based on the extent of Hicks’s injuries.
Hicks suffered multiple facial fractures and had to be transported from UPMC Kane to Hamot Medical Center in Erie by ambulance for treatment.
When the officer was able to talk to Hicks, Hicks said of the assault, “I did nothing to deserve this,” the complaint stated.
Thomas is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Oct. 11.
Eldred man arraigned on threat charges
An Eldred man has been arraigned for threat charges stemming from an alleged incident Tuesday.
Steven R. Thwing, 58, of 34 State Line Road, is charged with seven counts of terroristic threats and two counts of simple assault, first-degree misdemeanors; five counts of simple assault, second-degree misdemeanors; and seven summary counts of harassment.
Thwing was arraigned before District Judge William Todd and released on $5,000 unsecured bail.
According to the criminal complaint, Thwing allegedly pointed a shotgun at five adults and two children who were sitting around a campfire. The alleged victims — neighbors of Thwing — told police Thwing was “mad at them because he believed they were attempting to call coyotes.”
He is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Oct. 18.
