ALTAMONT - A call to police about an assault and disturbance in West Mahanoy Township on Monday morning led to the discovery of a man's body inside the home where the alleged assailant lived.
Township police were called to the 200 block of South Wylam Street about 8 a.m. after Thomas Petrousky, 53, became involved in an altercation with a neighbor, James Dellock, 249 S. Wylam St.
After Petrousky was taken into custody, officers went to his home at 256 S. Wylam St. and found a 50-year-old man dead inside.
Authorities did not release the victim's identity as of press time Monday. Police said the death is being viewed as "suspicious" pending the results of an autopsy set for this morning at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest,
The victim was pronounced dead inside his home at 8:45 a.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak, Shenandoah.
After being taken into custody, Petrousky was placed in a West Mahanoy Township police cruiser, where for hours afterward he was heard yelling, screaming and using obscene language.
At one point, Shenandoah EMS personnel arrived to evaluate Petrousky but departed after a brief talk with him.
Regarding the previous neighborhood disturbance, police said that Dellock left his home to check on his dog while Petrousky left his residence apparently also to check on his dog, which reportedly got out.
The two men began to argue and Petrousky assaulted Dellock and threatened him, police said.
They said Petrousky is facing charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief stemming from the altercation with Dellock.
No charges have been filed in connection with the death and police said their investigation into that incident is continuing.
Petrousky's next-door neighbor, Ted Buriak, said that about 8 a.m. he heard a disturbance outside and found Petrousky threatening Dellock.
Buriak said he went to the two men and tried to break up the argument as he knew Petrousky, but Petrousky would not listen and continued to be aggressive.
Buriak, sitting on his front porch, said he was able to keep the situation somewhat under control until police arrived and took the man into custody.
After finding the body, police received assistance from Schuylkill County detectives, state police troopers from the Frackville station and the state police Forensic Services Unit based at Troop L in Reading.
Petrousky was taken to the Shenandoah police station and placed in a holding cell where forensic technicians took his clothing into evidence and also checked him for any injuries he might have suffered recently.
He was subsequently taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, Pottsville, for a medical evaluation, after which he could be committed to that facility or arraigned on the assault charges, authorities said.
At the scene, police blocked off the area while state police technicians gathered evidence and photographed the scene.
Prior to collecting evidence police obtained search warrants from the office of Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont.
About 3:05 p.m. Sunday, troopers were called to the same area for a report of a disturbance and learned that Thomas Petrousky, 53, allegedly assaulted David R. Haliburda, 50, by punching him in the head.
Troopers charged Petrousky with harassment.
Although authorities have not identified the victim, neighbors said both men involved lived in the 256 S. Wylam St. home.