PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Multiple charges have been filed against a man who is accused of brandishing a gun and making threats during a New Year’s celebration in Punxsutawney.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 47-year-old Timothy L. Batey, of Hinesville, Georgia.
According to a criminal complaint, around 3:40 a.m. on January 1, Jefferson County 9-1-1 received a report of a disturbance at an apartment on Sycamore Street in Punxsutawney involving people screaming and a man who reportedly had a gun.
Punxsutawney Borough Police and Punxsutawney-based State Police responded to the scene. Police then spoke to a man in the building who indicated the man with the gun was Tim Batey, and he had left the apartment building.
Police then spoke with a known female victim.
According to the complaint, the victim told police they had been celebrating New Year’s, and she got into an argument with Batey after he allowed juveniles to have alcohol in the form of jello shots. She reported Batey then attempted to hit her and struck a hollow birch door on the back bedroom.
Police observed a fist-size hole in the door the victim described.
The victim told police a known man then intervened, and he and Batey “tussled” for a bit, during which Batey struck the man on the right side of the head, near his eye, causing redness and some abrasions. The man then disengaged and began taking the children out of the apartment and across the hall.
The complaint indicates Batey then brandished a black handgun with what appeared to be a silencer and stated, “You better go or I’m going to put a bullet in you.”
The man victim told police he had his back to Batey and did not see the gun. However, the female victim reported seeing the gun and hearing the threat.
The complaint notes two children also witnessed some of this activity.
After speaking to the victim, police were able to locate Batey near Cherry Street and Logan Street and detained him.
When questioned, Batey reportedly told police he did have a gun, but it was a pellet gun. He indicated he left it at the apartment.
Police returned to the apartment and located a tan handgun in the bedroom where the incident took place. However, the female victim indicated Batey had a black gun with what appeared to be a silencer and reported that he had referred to it in the past and said he had one bullet for it and was “saving it for a special purpose.”
Police then used a K-9 unit to track Batey’s route after leaving the apartment to where he was located by police, but they were unable to locate a gun fitting the description the female victim had given.
Batey was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 11:20 a.m. on January 1, on the following charges:
– Criminal Attempt – Aggravated Assault – Attempts to cause Serious Bodily Injury or causes injury with extreme indifference, Felony 1 (two counts)
– Possession of Firearm Prohibited, Felony 2
– Terroristic Threats With Intent to Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2 (five counts)
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2 (five counts)
Unable to post $50,000.00 (10%) monetary bail, he was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on February 22 with Judge Mizerock presiding.