ORWIGSBURG - A Schuylkill Haven man whom police allege assaulted his mother earlier this month in his home sits in prison after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on five charges stemming from the alleged incident.
Christopher Whalen, 32, of 60 Schumacher Road, faces charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, resisting arrest and harassment as a result of the incident, which police said forced them to use a Taser on the defendant.
Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over all five charges for Schuylkill County Court after Whalen waived his right to a hearing. After Whalen waived his right to a hearing, Ferrier returned him to the county prison in lieu of the defendant posting the $25,000 straight cash bail that had been set on Feb. 10 by Magisterial District Judge Carol A. Pankake, Tremont.
Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Whalen with assaulting Kathy James at 3:25 p.m. Feb. 10.
Whalen grabbed a knife from a kitchen drawer, pushed James and threatened to kill her, according to police.
Police said that when an officer arrived at the scene, Whalen, who had been on the couch, got up and went after him. The officer had to use a Taser on Whalen in order to calm him down, police allege.
Only after he was Tased did Whalen stop his resistance long enough to allow himself to be handcuffed and arrested, police said.
James told police she is afraid of her son.