SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A 46-year-old borough man is in critical condition at a Lehigh County trauma center after he was injured during an altercation late Saturday night.
Thomas Elliott, 114 Avenue B, was flown by helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest with severe head trauma. A spokesperson at Lehigh Valley said that Elliott was listed in critical condition Sunday evening.
Schuylkill Haven police said officers were called at 11:26 p.m. about a man lying on the sidewalk, unconscious with a head injury. At the scene, located outside the rear entrance to D&D Bar, 16 St. John St., officers found Elliott unresponsive and lying in a pool of blood.
The officers began giving first aid to Elliott until Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven Area EMS arrived and determined the man had a severe head injury and needed treatment at a trauma center.
Police said the investigation into the incident that led to Elliott's injury determined Elliott was inside the bar drinking and at some point met up with Lee Fidler, 43, of 34 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven.
Both men were long time acquaintances who had an ongoing dispute over money that was owed to Fidler, police said.
When the two met inside the bar a verbal altercation began and both decided to step outside to settle the dispute, police said.
Police said witnesses told them that once outside of the bar Elliott grabbed Fidler by the neck, pushed him against a building and began choking him.
At some point, police said, Fidler struck and/or choked Elliott who then stumbled backward and fell, hitting his head on the asphalt and knocking him unconscious.
Elliott had a gash in the back of his head and was lying in the pool of blood when officers arrived, police said.
Fidler and several witnesses were detained for questioning, police said, adding that Fidler was later released.
No arrests have yet been made and criminal charges are pending additional investigation, police said.