On Aug. 26 at 3:41 a.m., State Police from the Reading station were called to a domestic disturbance on Sally Ann Furnace Road in Rockland Township.
Through a series of interviews, police learned that William James Spannuth, 56, of Mertztown, awoke at 3 a.m. with pain caused by a pre-existing medical condition. He began yelling for the 57-year-old female victim. A verbal argument ensued, and Spannuth smacked the victim twice on the face with his open hand. No injuries were reported or observed from this incident.
However, after this, when the victim went to her bedroom to gather items to leave. Spannuth obtained a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol and proceeded to fire it into the ceiling of the foyer area. The victim, hearing the gunshot, shut her bedroom door and locked it. Spannuth tried several times to get in the room through the door but was unsuccessful.
Spannuth then fired three to four rounds into the door knob to break the lock. The victim was not hit as a result of these shots, but Spannuth then gained entry into the room. The victim was able to flee the residence and then contacted 9-1-1.
Spannuth was taken into custody by responding troopers. He was charged with Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Terroristic Threats, Discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and Harassment.
Judge Victor Frederick set Spannuth’s bail at $100,000 on the same date. It is unknown at this time whether or not Spannuth has posted bail.