A Branch Township man is behind bars after a violent confrontation at a local construction office led to injuries, criminal charges, and a struggle involving a firearm.
Jonathan Storm Schramm, 27, of Branch Township, was arrested on Thursday, July 10, 2025, after State Police from the Schuylkill Haven Barracks responded to a reported altercation at Harach Construction, located on West Main Street in Mount Carbon Borough.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded around 8:55 AM when Schramm returned to the construction company’s office after being dismissed from a jobsite earlier that morning due to reported issues with his behavior. The company’s owner, Patrick Michael Harach, told troopers that Schramm entered the office demanding payment. When Harach refused, a heated argument escalated into a physical altercation.
Harach reported that Schramm struck him several times in the head with a closed fist and refused to leave the premises despite repeated commands to do so. Fearing for his safety, Harach retrieved an AR-15 rifle he kept on site for protection. According to Harach, the firearm was initially unloaded, but during the struggle with Schramm, the weapon fell to the floor. Harach said he was able to regain control of the rifle, load it, and display it—at which point Schramm left the building.
Troopers noted visible injuries on Harach, including swelling around his right eye, a scalp laceration, and a cut behind his right ear. Schramm, when interviewed at the scene, stated he was only trying to collect his wages and believed he was acting in self-defense, claiming Harach was physically larger than him. Troopers observed a cut under Schramm’s chin.
An employee of Harach Construction, corroborated Harach’s account. She told investigators that Schramm had been told to leave the jobsite for refusing to work and that his behavior had been erratic. She said Schramm entered the office yelling and that she witnessed him follow Harach and begin striking him in the head. She described the struggle as intense, with the two men "falling and going through walls."
- Simple Assault (Misdemeanor 2)
- Harassment – Subjecting Another to Physical Contact (Summary)
- Disorderly Conduct – Engaging in Fighting (Summary)
Schramm was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James Reiley and committed to Schuylkill County Prison after failing to post $10,000 bail (10% required).