William Ciccoli Jr. charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Pottstown police officer

A Pottstown man has been charged with attempted murder after responding to his home twice in two hours Friday afternoon for domestic violence calls, according to Pottstown police and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

William Ciccoli Jr., 42, struggled with Cpl. Anthony Fischer as another officer tried to arrest him when he grabbed Fischer’s gun and fired one shot, according to a statement issued Saturday from the office of the district attorney and Pottstown Police Chief Michael Markovich.

Fischer was shot in the right hip and was in stable condition Saturday at Reading Hospital Trauma Center after undergoing surgery, the statement said.

The shooting happened just after 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

The police and the Public Prosecution Service gave the following report:

At 2:40 p.m., Fischer and Pottstown Police Officer John Schmalbach responded to a call about a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the 200 block of Chestnut Street shared by Ciccoli and his girlfriend.

Officers provided the woman with information about domestic violence resources, and she and Ciccoli agreed to stay away from each other. Schmalbach planned to send Ciccoli two citations in the mail, for harassment and criminal mischief.

Two hours later, Fischer and Schmalbach were back at the apartment, again due to a reported domestic disturbance. The woman, who had marks on her neck and swelling around her left cheekbone, told police Ciccoli grabbed her by the neck, making it difficult for her to breathe.

While Schmalbach attempted to take Ciccoli into custody, Ciccoli attacked Fischer. The corporal could be heard on his bodycam video saying, “He’s trying to get my gun.” As Schmalbach deploys his Taser on Ciccoli, a shot is heard on the video, followed by Ciccoli’s hands on the gun.

In addition to attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, Ciccoli is charged with aggravated assault and related crimes in connection with Fischer. He is also charged with strangulation, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person for his girlfriend’s injuries.

Ciccoli was being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility pending a bail hearing scheduled for Monday in Montgomery County Court.