Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Tamaqua Man Behind Bars After Destructive Rampage in Walker Township Home

A Tamaqua man remains locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after a disturbance in Walker Township.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville, on Thursday, December 21st, 2023, around 8:30pm, Troopers responded to a home on Catawissa Road in Walker Township for a report of a disturbance.

Troopers arrived where they heard items smashing inside the home.  The officers entered and found 25-year-old Michael Smerlick intentionally damaging the interior of the victim's residence.

Smerlick had already done significant damage to the walls, plumbing, household appliances, and furniture before police arrived.

He was taken into custody by troopers and charged with criminal mischief involving damage to property and risking catastrophe.

He was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison unable to pay 10% of $10,000 bail.

He remained in Schuylkill County Prison and will appear before Magisterial District Judge Andrew J. Serina, Orwigsburg, on January 2nd, 2024.