DICKSON CITY — A Scott Twp. man attacked his girlfriend as the two were walking back to a hotel after food shopping, police said.
Nicholas Alinoski, 25, of 639 Lakeland Drive, is charged with assault and harassment.
According to the criminal complaint:
At about 11 p.m. on April 16, Dickson City police responded to Business Route 6 for the report of an assault.
A witness told officers he had been driving on the highway when he spotted a man punching a woman in front of the Days Inn.
Officers arrived and spoke with Temple Guest, who they noted had two black eyes and a minor cut to her nose.
Guest told officers that the injury to her face had occurred several days prior during an incident in Scott Twp. She told officers that Alinoski had been arrested by Scott Twp. police for the previous incident.
Guest said she was staying at the Days Inn and that Alinoski’s parents had given him a ride to the hotel. She and the defendant decided to walk to a grocery store for food.
She said while walking back from the store the two began arguing, but claimed it was only verbal.
Officers then spoke with the witness, who said he had been driving east on Business Route 6, approaching Cold Springs Road, when he saw Guest and Alinoski running across the highway. He saw Alinoski drop some items, pick them up, catch up to Guest and then punch her in the face three times. The witness said Guest put her hands and arms up in self-defense.
Because the witness didn’t have cellphone service, he continued driving. He eventually spotted an Archbald police car and reported the incident to them.
Dickson City officers accompanied Guest to her hotel room, forcing their way into the room, where they found Alinoski passed out and extremely intoxicated.
Guest acknowledged she had been staying with Alinoski. She said Alinoski had hit her with a shopping cart and pushed her to the ground.
Alinoski remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on April 30 before District Judge Paul Keeler.