A West Mahanoy Township man charged with an April assault outside of his home a short time before his roommate was found brutally beaten to death waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday morning.
Thomas J. Petrousky, 53, of 256 S. Wylam St., appeared in Courtroom No. 5 of the Schuylkill County Courthouse before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale. The proceedings were held at the courthouse instead of Hale's Frackville court for security reasons.
Represented by chief public defender Michael Stine, Petrousky chose not to have the hearing on charges of simple assault, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and criminal mischief.
He was returned to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bail set at the time of his May 2 arrest.
West Mahanoy Township police Chief Shawn Tray arrested Petrousky in connection with the April 28 assault on James Dellock, who lives at 249 S. Wylam St., across the street from Petrousky.
Minutes after police broke up the fight and took Petrousky into custody, they found the body of David Halaburda in the 256 S. Wylam St. home he shared with Petrousky.
To date, no charges have been filed in connection with Halaburda's death and Tray said Wednesday the investigation is continuing.
An autopsy determined Halaburda died from "blunt force head and neck injuries," and a forensic pathologist ruled the manner of death a homicide.
In filing the assault charges against Petrousky, Tray said officers were called to the 200 block of South Wylam Street about 8 a.m. where Patrolman Ray Tonkinson and Frackville police Patrolman Christopher Hand took Petrousky into custody.
The officers reported Petrousky appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and failed to obey verbal commands from Hand.
Tray said Hand, first at the scene, had to use force and grab Petrousky by the arm. Both men then fell to the ground, where the officer struggled to control the man until Tonkinson arrived within minutes.
Tonkinson spoke to Dellock who said that about 7:50 a.m., he was outside of his home when Petrousky walked over and told him to get out of his house and that he was going to shoot both Dellock's dogs and then him.
At the time, Dellock was on the porch of his own home, Tray said.
Petrousky removed his jacket and dentures, walked up on Dellock's porch, punched him 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 saw recent bruising on Dellock's face.
Petrousky remained a patient at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street while he was medically evaluated. Days later, he was released and charged with the assault on Dellock.
Police said the investigation into the killing of Halaburda is continuing and no additional information is available.