A Mixsell Avenue, Steel City man was punched in the mouth during an argument with a neighbor Wednesday, Lower Saucon Township Police said in a news release Thursday.
An example of a ground stake used for a Christmas ornament. (Credit: www.christmaslightsetc.com)
According to police, the argument began after Tom Bauder, 54, saw a dog chase one of his cats through his front yard at about 2:45 p.m.
Police said Bauder “went outside to protect his cat” and then realized the loose dog belonged to his neighbor, Keith Wendling, 49.
Bauder believed the dog to be aggressive and “picked up a pointed Christmas ornament stake in case he needed to protect himself,” the news release stated.
At that point Wendling’s girlfriend retrieved the dog “without any problems,” police said, but Wendling also came outside, “realized that Tom was holding a pointed stake and ordered Tom to drop it.”
Police said that according to Wendling’s version of events, he ordered Bauder to drop the makeshift weapon after he allegedly observed him “lunging at his dog with (the) pointed stake.”
The two then reportedly began to argue.
Wendling told police they both walked toward their shared property line, with Bauder then allegedly making “an aggressive movement with the stake in hand.”
“Keith pushed Tom and made the same movement,” police said. “Keith then punched Tom in the mouth,” causing a small cut to the tip of his tongue.
“Due to the fact that Keith pushed and punched Tom, he will be charged with summary harassment,” police stated. “Also due to the fact that Tom made an aggressive movement toward Keith with a pointed stake, he will be cited for disorderly conduct.”
