FRACKVILLE - One of two Frackville men who kept state police at bay inside a borough home for about four hours Wednesday was arraigned on outstanding charges stemming from an assault on a Saint Clair police officer and a domestic incident with his girlfriend.
Steven L. Androshick, 49, of 29 S. Fourth St., and Harry Ronald Baney III, 28, of 541 W. Oak St., surrendered at 12:18 a.m. Thursday, leaving the house with their hands raised in the air.
The peaceful conclusion ended an incident that began between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m. Wednesday when troopers from the Frackville station tried to serve an arrest warrant on Androshick at his home.
At the scene, police learned Baney was also inside and wanted, as well.
In separate hearings Thursday, Judge John E. Domalakes committed each man to the county prison pending the outcome of the cases against them.
He also ordered Androshick to pay $150 in bench warrant fees and revoked and forfeited the bail in two of the cases against him, while ordering Baney to pay $100 in bench warrant fees.
The charges Androshick was wanted for included failing to appear in court on one count of felony forgery stemming from an incident June 9, 2012, at the Rinaldi Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in Mahanoy Township.
He was also wanted by Frackville borough police for allegedly making false reports and calling in false alarms.
Baney was wanted on charges of two counts of aggravated assault and one count of escape, all felony offenses, as well as misdemeanor charges of retail theft, possessing instruments of crime and resisting arrest for allegedly hitting Saint Clair police Patrolman Christopher Zubris, who was trying to take him into custody June 7 at Wal-Mart.
He was also wanted by Frackville borough police for failing to appear in court on charges of simple assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and harassment after an incident March 4 at his home involving his girlfriend.
Standoff
State police said neither Androshick nor Baney would answer the door at the home, prompting troopers to set up a perimeter to keep residents and curious onlookers away from the area and out of danger.
About 9 p.m., members of the state police Special Emergency Response Team began to arrive and about an hour later, an armored vehicle arrived.
Police could be heard yelling commands to both Androshick and Baney to exit the home.
"Occupants of 29 South Fourth Street, exit the home and walk across the street," was one command.
SERT members surrounded the home and used two "flash bang" devices before being able to talk the men into coming out.
As the men left the home shirtless and with their hands in the air, they were quickly taken to the sidewalk and handcuffed by SERT members positioned nearby.
When Baney and Androshick surrendered and were taken into custody, cheers and clapping could be heard from about 100 people standing around Boyers Food Markets.
"Good job, guys," one man who was sitting on his front porch throughout the entire incident yelled to police.
Charges filed
Later Thursday morning, Baney was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, for the assault on Zubris, with bail set at $100,000 straight cash.
He was also arraigned for the domestic incident at his home by Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, who also set bail at $100,000 straight cash.
In the assault case, Zubris said in his affidavit of probable cause that he was called to Wal-Mart for a report of a retail theft and met Baney, telling him he was being taken into custody.
Zubris said as he placed his hand on Baney's shoulder, the man began to fight with him and struck him in the chest and face.
Baney ran into the store's vestibule, where a black handgun fell out of his waistband, and then left the store, Zubris said. As Baney was running, Zubris said he used his Taser, causing Baney to fall to the ground.
Baney continued to struggle and was Tased again with little effect. He eventually got up and fled the area behind the store and into the woods, according to Zubris.
In the Frackville case, police charged Baney with assaulting Shannon O'Boyle by slapping and punching the woman and then locking her in the basement for more than an hour.
While in the basement, O'Boyle tried to escape by crawling out of a coal chute opening but Baney heard her, came into the basement and pulled her back into the house by her feet, police said.
O'Boyle finally managed to get away and ran to a friend's home on North Seventh Street, police said.
State police at Schuylkill Haven also charged Baney with fleeing and eluding and five motor vehicle offenses in connection with a chase they said occurred on March 16, 2013, in Port Carbon.
Judge Charles M. Miller also issued a bench warrant for Baney on June 26, 2013, declaring him an absconder from probation in yet another case.
In connection to Androshick, state police Trooper Scott Grochowski charged him with forgery for allegedly signing the name of Jason Slotcavage to secure a $35,000 loan for a vehicle.
The investigation determined that Slotcavage's father, Francis Slotcavage, took Androshick to the dealership and had him sign his son's name to loan papers. When interviewed, Androshick admitted committing the crime, Grochowski said.
Frackville police Patrolman Anthony Kankowski charged Androshick with three misdemeanor counts each of false alarms to agencies of public safety and false reports to law enforcement.
Kankowski said the man called the Schuylkill County Communications Center on Aug. 24, Sept. 29 and Oct. 21, 2013, reporting fires that did not exist.
Both police and Frackville firefighters and EMS responded to the calls, the officer said.
Pottsville police also charged Androshick with four counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. They alleged he possessed the drugs Jan. 21 in the city.
Police did not say if charges will be filed against the two men as a result of Wednesday's standoff.