Ice cream truck driver charged in assault
?Less than a week after he was involved in a dispute with another ice cream truck driver in Uniontown, a local ice cream truck driver is now behind bars for allegedly assaulting his boss in a dispute over money.
State police Trooper Todd Stephenson said Bernard Joseph Geisel, 29, of 500 Fourth Ave., New Eagle, was charged before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. with burglary, simple assault, criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct following the altercation with George Swaney of North Union Township.
Stephenson said the incident began Tuesday afternoon when Geisel got into an argument with Swaney over a financial dispute. Swaney is the owner of the ice cream truck that Geisel drives.
Late Tuesday, Stephenson said Geisel drove to a cemetery located near Swaney’s home on Curry Hill Road and then walked to Swaney’s residence with a baseball bat. Shortly before midnight, Stephenson said Geisel used the bat to smash out the rear entrance to the home and then entered the residence, where he attempted to beat Swaney with the bat.
Stephenson said Swaney was able to wrest the bat from Geisel and then pin him on the floor until police arrived.
Geisel was placed in the Fayette County Prison on $25,000 straight cash bond following his arraignment.
A preliminary hearing for Geisel will he held at a later date before Magisterial District Judge Wendy D. Dennis.
Last week, Geisel was one of two ice cream truck drivers involved in a dispute that necessitated police involvement in Uniontown. That dispute occurred after the men engaged in an argument while one of the driver’s was attempting to make an ice cream sale. Both drivers received verbal warnings from police to get along and neither man was charged.