An Allentown man was charged this week with abusing his 87-year-old grandmother in her Salisbury Township home.
Michael C. Snyder, 29, surrendered to township police following an investigation by the Lehigh County Elder Abuse Task Force. He is charged with simple assault and harassment.
According to court records, the investigation began Aug. 29 when police were called to the victim's home on West Emmaus Avenue for a possible domestic disturbance. Police "de-escalated a family argument" and saw the victim in her bed. She appeared to be injured, the records say.
Emergency medical services were called and she was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for an evaluation. According to court records, the victim had "past injuries" that did not fit Snyder's version of what happened to his grandmother.
Snyder came to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office with a lawyer on Jan. 9, and spoke to detectives. Court records say he admitted losing his temper after the victim soiled her bed on Aug. 12.
He then pulled her into a bathroom where "she was forcefully and recklessly moved around," court records say. The woman fell to the floor, and Snyder yelled at her and used profanity, according to court records.
Snyder then placed the woman in a "bear hug," court records say, and moved her to the bathtub. While she was in the tub he noticed a "deformity to her left wrist and arm," the records state.
Snyder called his girlfriend and the woman was subsequently taken to a hospital.
"Michael Snyder stated that he was responsible for recklessly and forcefully causing bodily injury to (his grandmother) and that he yelled lewd, obscene and derogatory language toward her," court records state.
Snyder's attorney, Joshua E. Karoly, said his client is remorseful and that family members want to put the incident behind them.
"Mike is a young man who was not equipped to handle the task of caring for his grandmother. He got in over his head. It's a thankless job and frustration mounts. They both love each other very much," Karoly said.
Snyder was arraigned late Thursday before District Justice Michael J. Pochron and released on $10,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 4.
lmason@mcall.com
Twitter @LehighCourts
610-820-6506
According to court records, the investigation began Aug. 29 when police were called to the victim's home on West Emmaus Avenue for a possible domestic disturbance. Police "de-escalated a family argument" and saw the victim in her bed. She appeared to be injured, the records say.
Snyder came to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office with a lawyer on Jan. 9, and spoke to detectives. Court records say he admitted losing his temper after the victim soiled her bed on Aug. 12.
Snyder then placed the woman in a "bear hug," court records say, and moved her to the bathtub. While she was in the tub he noticed a "deformity to her left wrist and arm," the records state.
Snyder called his girlfriend and the woman was subsequently taken to a hospital.
"Michael Snyder stated that he was responsible for recklessly and forcefully causing bodily injury to (his grandmother) and that he yelled lewd, obscene and derogatory language toward her," court records state.
Snyder's attorney, Joshua E. Karoly, said his client is remorseful and that family members want to put the incident behind them.
"Mike is a young man who was not equipped to handle the task of caring for his grandmother. He got in over his head. It's a thankless job and frustration mounts. They both love each other very much," Karoly said.
Snyder was arraigned late Thursday before District Justice Michael J. Pochron and released on $10,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 4.
lmason@mcall.com
Twitter @LehighCourts
610-820-6506
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