Lavelle man arraigned on assault charges after sparking standoff
LAVELLE – A Lavelle man was arraigned Thursday and is free on unsecured bail after police say he slammed his wife’s hand in a door and refused to leave the home, sparking a brief standoff earlier this month.
Michael Walnock, 49, of 58 Dutch Road, is facing felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault and disorderly conduct for the incident on March 10.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Butler Township Police Patrolman Raymond Horan, police were called to the home at 58 Dutch Road for a reported domestic incident around 4pm.
Horan wrote that the victim — Walnock’s wife — and daughter were waiting for police nearby in a vehicle.
The victim had severe swelling to her right hand, which she said was caused by Walnock, who she said slammed a door on her hand. She was taken to Geisinger Shamokin Hospital for treatment.
Horan requested assistance from Mount Carmel and Mount Carmel Township Police and knocked on the door multiple times requesting Walnock to exit. He then used the patrol car’s loudspeaker to no avail.
He then called a police lieutenant who advised that, based on prior police contact with Walnock, he should be considered a barricaded subject and the State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) should be called.
Horan then made contact with State Police at Frackville, who tracked down a phone number for Walnock. All Butler Township full-time police officers were also requested to assist.
Using the phone number, State Police contacted Walnock who said he was not home, but would not say where he was. The Schuylkill County Communications Center “pinged” the phone, which showed he appeared to be home.
Butler Township Police Chief Christopher Hand was able to call him, and the chief requested that Walnock meet with him alone at the home. Walnock agreed and the two met and spoke at the front door.
Walnock told Hand that he was suicidal and said he would sign himself into the hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Butler Township Police then transported Walnock to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill – East Norwegian Street in Pottsville, where Walnock signed himself in.
His wife provided a written statement regarding the incident, saying that he tried to stop her from leaving the home, struck her with a rubber band, and pushed her several times. Walnock then, she recounted, released the family’s dogs. When she secured the dogs and tried to close the door, Walnock slammed the door on her hand.
Walnock was arraigned Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli in Frackville and released on $75,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for March 27.
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