Police officer charged with assaulting girlfriend
A police officer in Redstone Township is facing charges after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend during a dispute in South Union Township early Saturday. State police Trooper Todd Stephenson said Norman Leo Howard III, 38, of South Union Township was charged before Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr. with simple assault and harassment following the alleged altercation with Tammy Annette Runco around 2:50 a.m.
Stephenson said the fight started at a location in Scottdale as the couple was returning to South Union Township from a party.
During the argument, Stephenson said that Runco told investigators that Howard stopped his vehicle in the middle of a road construction zone on Route 119 and got out of the car. Runco told police that she then got into the driver’s seat of the vehicle and drove home, leaving Howard behind.
Stephenson said that Howard was “furious” with Runco when he arrived at his residence later that morning. Runco told police that she then went into the garage of the residence to try and avoid Howard, but police said that he punched a glass window of the garage, shattering the glass and causing injuries to Runco’s face.
Stephenson said when officers arrived at the home, they found Runco on the porch suffering a laceration on her forehead and also observed blood on her face and clothing.
Howard, who is a sergeant with the Redstone Township police, told investigators that he never meant for the glass to break and simply punched the window out of frustration during the argument, Stephenson said.
He also told investigators that Runco struck him in the face during the altercation and scratched him on his back and left arm.
He was treated at Uniontown Hospital for a large laceration to his right arm that he suffered from punching the window.
Stephenson noted that Runco also be will cited for harassment for her alleged role in the altercation.
Howard is free on $5,000 unsecured bond.
A preliminary hearing will be held at a later date before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr.