Pottstown man charged after two alleged assaults

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

POTTSTOWN — A man who was being arraigned for an alleged domestic dispute had to be tased after becoming violent, police said.
On the morning of May 27, Joel Irizarry, 40, of Pottstown, allegedly went to Creative Health on Robinson Street where the victim was with a friend, according to police.
The victim, who is two months pregnant, told police that Irizarry began to argue with her at Creative Health so she left.
Around 11:24 a.m. a borough police officer noticed a silver Ford and a motorcycle pulled off to the side of Manatawny Street near Glasgow Street.
Officers followed the vehicles and made contact with the victim in the 400 block of Manatawny Street after Irizarry allegedly rode off on the motorcycle, police said.
After speaking with officers, the victim said she wanted to file a protection from abuse order against Irizarry, police said.
While the victim spoke with police, several officers stopped Irizarry in the parking lot of Manatawny Park where he was arrested, police said.
Then, around 3:30 p.m., District Judge Albert J. Augustine arraigned Irizarry via video. After the arraignment was finished, Irizarry — who was unable to post his $5,000 bail — allegedly punched the screen, police said.
According to police, he allegedly began to resist arrest and fight officers.
“In order to gain control over Irizarry I drew my department issues Taser,” the affidavit of probable said.
The Taser prongs hit Irizarry on the left side of the chest, police said.
Although Irizarry claimed to have “passed out” and not remember the outburst, officers said that “at no time during the incident did (he) lose consciousness.”
As a result of the second alleged incident, Irizarry was issued $25,000 bail bringing the cumulative amount to $30,000 cash, according to court documents.
He faces two felony counts of aggravated assault, one misdemeanor count of simple assault and disorderly conduct. Irizarry is expected in court again on June 10 at 1:30 p.m.