Latrobe men charged by police after daylight brawl involving knife, pepper spray
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Two men were arrested when an ongoing feud resulted in a daylight brawl Wednesday along a main thoroughfare in Latrobe, city police said.
Police said one person allegedly used pepper spray and a small knife during the fight along the 1900 block of Ligonier Street near Latrobe Elementary School about 2:45 p.m.
William H. Coleman, 44, and Joel Morin, 38, both city residents, were arrested on charges of harassment and simple assault after the altercation that was originally reported by witnesses as a vehicle-pedestrian crash.
Witnesses also reported that one of those involved was threatening the other with a knife and assaulting the other with pepper spray, Patrolman Ray Swiderski reported in court documents. He and other officers arrived to discover there was no traffic accident.
According to Swiderski, Coleman was driving on Ligonier Street and saw Morin riding a bicycle on the sidewalk.
Swiderski said in court papers that Coleman intentionally swerved off the road on to the sidewalk, exited his car and verbally confronted Morin over an ongoing dispute regarding a woman.
“Morin pulled out a knife and then (pepper sprayed) Coleman in his face. Coleman then punched Morin in the face,” Swiderski wrote, adding that Coleman required medical attention.
Coleman was released on unsecured bond pending a preliminary hearing Jan. 25. Morin was charged via mailed summons.
Neither Coleman or Morin could be reached for comment and neither had attorneys listed in court documents. Coleman pleaded guilty in 2018 to reckless endangerment and making terroristic threats and was sentenced to two years probation, according to online court dockets.
Morin has no prior criminal history.