Man held for court in alleged Christmas party assault of East Beth commissioner
A Fredericktown man charged with leaving an East Bethlehem commissioner unconscious after a bathroom assault was held for Washington County Court after a preliminary hearing Monday.
David Anthony Lingis, 37, was charged with aggravated and simple assault and cited for harassment as a result of the alleged assault on Dec. 16 at the Riviera Bar in Fredericktown.
Police said township Commissioner Paul Battaglini was at the bar for the township’s Christmas party. Around 11:15 p.m., police alleged, Battaglini went into the restroom, and Lingis followed him.
The men got into a verbal argument, which turned into a physical confrontation, police said. Bar patrons heard the disturbance, and when they went into the restroom, they found Battaglini on the floor unconscious, lying across a toilet that had been broken in the fracas, according to court records.
Police said Lingis was standing over him.
Battaglini was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where it was discovered he had suffered a brain bleed. According to the affidavit, Battaglini told the investigating state trooper that he recalled walking into the restroom and speaking with Lingis, but he has no recollections of the evening after that.
Magisterial District Judge Joshua Kanalis held the charges for court, and Lingis, free on a $20,000 unsecured bond, faces a May 26 formal arraignment in common pleas court.