SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A 46-year-old Schuylkill Haven man remains in critical condition following an altercation outside a borough tavern Saturday night, a hospital spokesperson said Monday.
Thomas Elliott, 114 Avenue B, was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest by helicopter with severe head trauma, police said.
Meanwhile, borough police are continuing their investigation and no charges have been filed, police Chief Jeffrey Walcott said.
According to police, officers were called to outside the rear entrance of D&D Bar, 16 Saint John St., at 11:26 p.m. where they found Elliott unresponsive and lying in a pool of blood.
Police said the investigation into the incident that led to Elliott's injury determined that he was in the bar drinking and at some point met Lee Fidler, 43, of 34 Saint 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, 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 stumbled backward and fell backward, hit his head on the asphalt, immediately rendering him unconscious.
Police said Elliott had an obvious gash or cut on the back of his head when officers arrived.
Fidler, along with several witnesses were detained for questioning and later released, police said.