Derry Township man charged in butcher knife attack
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State police say a Derry Township woman barricaded herself in a bathroom after a man swung a butcher knife at her during an argument Wednesday.
Donald E. Gunter, 39, was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness by state police after the 8:30 p.m. incident in the 6800 block of Route 982.
State Trooper Steven Skowronek said the victim kept her telephone line open “as she was locked in the bathroom, hiding from Gunter, who was threatening her with a knife.”
Skowronek said troopers could hear Gunter “screaming and yelling” at the victim as they drove to the scene.
When officers arrived, Skowronek reported Gunter was initially cooperative, but then attempted to leave the residence carrying a backpack and started to argue and became combative with troopers.
Police said the victim reported one of her knuckles was cut when Gunter swung the knife at her before she fled into the bathroom. She told police that Gunter instructed her to cancel the police response “or she would pay dearly when he was released from jail,” Skowronek said.
Gunter was arraigned and ordered held in the county jail after failing to post $20,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 4.