Man Allegedly Struck Pregnant Girlfriend In Stomach With Pick Axe
SOMERSET TWP. (KDKA) -- A man is in the Washington County Jail after he allegedly struck his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach with a pick axe.
Chad Anthony DeJohn, 35, is accused of assaulting the woman, who is seven months pregnant, Sunday night at her home on North Main Street in Somerset Township.
She told officers that she and DeJohn were arguing and it escalated to the point where he hit her in the stomach with a portion of a pick axe. Court documents don't specify whether the woman was hit by the wooden handle or the metal blade.
She was crying, and said she was scared of DeJohn.
One woman reacted to the news, saying "Oh, that's horrible, oh my God, who could do that to somebody?"
Judy Pietrowski lives on the same quiet street as the victim. She said she didn't hear anything out of the ordinary Sunday evening.
"Never in my life have I seen or heard anything like that...especially in a little town like this, it's very abnormal," Pietrowski explained.
The Observer-Reporter reports that DeJohn was arrested last June in North Strabane on domestic violence charges, but, the charges were withdrawn two weeks later.
"They need to do a little bit more investigating before they drop [domestic violence related] charges, and actually look into the problem and see what's going on, maybe it would stop this," Pietrowski said.
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DeJohn now faces charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children and two counts each of simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. He is held on $500,000 bond.
There is no word on the condition of the unborn child involved.