West Mahanoy Township police have obtained an arrest warrant for the roommate of a man found dead inside his home in the township's Altamont section on Monday morning.
However, the charges against Thomas J. Petrousky, 53, of 256 S. Wylam St., stem from an altercation he had with a neighbor that morning and are not in connection with the death of David R. Halaburda, 50, whose body was found about 8:15 a.m. An autopsy determined he died from "blunt force head and neck injuries" and a forensic pathologist ruled the manner of death a homicide.
The complaint filed by township police Chief Shawn Tray stems from the altercation, just minutes before the body was discovered, between Petrousky and James Dellock who lives across the street at 249 S. Wylam St.
Tray said officers were called to the 200 block of South Wylam Street shortly after 8 a.m. where Patrolman Ray Tonkinson and Frackville police Patrolman Christopher Hand took Petrousky into custody.
The officers said Petrousky seemed to be under the influence of a controlled substance and failed to obey verbal commands from Hand.
Tray said that Hand, who was first at the scene, had to use force and grab Petrousky by the arm. Both fell to the ground where the officer struggled to control Petrousky until Tonkinson arrived.
Tonkinson subsequently spoke to Dellock, who said that about 7:50 a.m. he was outside his home when Petrousky walked over and told him to get out of his house and that he was going to shoot both of Dellock's dogs and then him.
At the time, Dellock was on the porch of his own home, Tray said.
Petrousky then removed his jacket and dentures, walked up on Dellock's porch and punched the man on the left side of his face and kicked him in the lower back, Tray said.
After leaving the porch, Tray said, Petrousky removed Dellock's plastic mailbox and threw it on the street.
Tray said that Tonkinson noticed recent bruising on Dellock's face.
Petrousky was subsequently taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for medical evaluation and remains a patient in the center.
Tray obtained the warrant charging Petrousky with resisting arrest, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and criminal mischief from on-call Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont.
After being released from the hospital, police said, Petrousky will be formally charged and arraigned.
Although Petrousky has not been charged in the death of Halaburda, police, after arresting him in the other incident, took his clothing for evidence and checked to see if he had any recent injuries.
Police said Wednesday that the investigation into the killing of Halaburda is continuing but they had no additional information available.