SHENANDOAH - Police have identified the victim of an assault Sunday night in the borough.
Cindy Arias Gilbert, Shenandoah, was treated at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and released after Maurice Antwan Townsend, who lives in Shenandoah but has no fixed address, allegedly attacked her with a knife.
Gilbert is an independent carrier for The Republican-Herald.
Shenandoah police Patrolman Christopher Zubris said the attack occurred about 7:30 p.m. at 219 W. Cherry St. Zubris said he and Patrolman Robert Senape were called for a woman with either a stab wound or a gunshot wound. At the scene, Zubris said the officers found Gilbert with a large laceration on her upper right arm. She was treated at the scene by Shenandoah ALS and taken to the hospital.
Witnesses at the scene described the attacker as a black man, between 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 5 feet, 10 inches tall wearing blue jeans and a black tank top. Witnesses told police the attacker was Townsend, known as "T-Rex," and said he fled on foot heading east on Cherry Street.
Zubris said police learned Townsend and Gilbert were arguing in the street when Townsend pulled out a sharp, silver object and proceeded to "slice" Gilbert's arm.
A woman who was in the area said Townsend confronted her and said, "Touch me and I'll slice you," Zubris said.
About 8:15 p.m., Zubris said, Mahanoy City police Lt. John Kaczmarczyk received information that Townsend was seen on East Washington Street and turning onto North Bower Street.
Zubris said several police units went to the scene in the 100 block of North Bower Street and arrested Townsend without incident.
During a search, Zubris said police found a small silver folding knife in Townsend's right rear pocket and took it as evidence.
Townsend was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault; one misdemeanor count each of recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and disorderly conduct and a summary charge of harassment. He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.
Townsend will now have to appear for a preliminary hearing at 10:15 a.m. July 31 in the Shenandoah courtroom of Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.