Wilkes-Barre man charged with assault and terroristic threats after a domestic dispute on Halloween

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – A Wilkes-Barre man was taken into custody Thursday evening after an alleged domestic dispute on Scott Street in which he allegedly threatened to kill another person and attacked him with a porcelain statue, city police said.

The Wilkes-Barre City Police Department reported that officers were dispatched to a home on Oct. 31 around 6:47 p.m. after receiving a domestic violence call. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim, who claimed that 29-year-old Joseph Rodriguez had become aggressive during a verbal argument. According to police, the dispute started over Rodriguez’s refusal to clean his room.

During the altercation, Rodriguez allegedly threw a porcelain statue at the victim, striking him in the head. Police said the victim also reported that Rodriguez threatened to kill him and kicked him in the leg. Wilkes-Barre City paramedics treated the victim for his injuries at the scene.

Rodriguez was arrested and transported to city headquarters, where he was processed and charged on charges of assault and making terroristic threats. The incident is still under investigation.