Assault, imprisonment charges dropped

STAFF REPORT

SHARON, Pa. — Charges of aggravated assault and false imprisonment against a city man have been dropped.

Jerry Teague, 39, had been accused of preventing a 20-year-old woman from leaving his house for days and beating her. But the woman refused to testify at Teague’s preliminary hearing Wednesday before Senior District Magistrate Henry Russo.

Assistant District Attorney Keith Bell said that without her testimony, there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute Teague.

Police had reported they responded to a 911 call from Teague’s New Castle Avenue home Dec. 21. The woman told them that she had been held for days and beaten with objects that included a frying pan and a glass globe.

Police Chief Michael Menster said the victim had severely bruised eyes, cuts on her scalp, puncture marks on her shoulder and whip marks on her back.

The court dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning the district attorney’s office has the right to refile them at any time.