Man in prison for alleged assault on wife
A Uniontown man is behind bars after he allegedly pushed his wife down a flight of stairs at their apartment early Tuesday. City police Sgt. Wayne Brown said Charles E. Thomas III, 46, of Apartment 2, 22 Race St., was charged before Magisterial District Judge Wendy D. Dennis with simple assault and harassment following the altercation with his wife, Carrie Rittenhouse.
Brown said the incident started late Monday when Rittenhouse, 20, arrived home and found her husband intoxicated.
Thomas started to argue with his wife and then told her that he planned to cheat on her, Brown said.
During the argument, Brown said Rittenhouse tried to leave but Thomas grabbed her by the hair, pushed her to the floor and punched her in the mouth.
Rittenhouse then told police that she tried to call 911 but Thomas grabbed the telephone and broke it, Brown said.
At that point, Rittenhouse grabbed a cellular telephone and tried to run from the home but was pushed down about 12 stairs from the second floor to the ground floor by Thomas, Brown said.
Brown said police found Thomas inside the home and took him into custody without incident.
He noted that the incident marked the 12th time since November that police have been called to the home to investigate domestic disputes.
Thomas was placed in the Fayette County Prison on 10 percent of $10,000 cash bond.
A preliminary hearing will be held at a later date in Uniontown.