Schuylkill Haven man charged in stabbing at bar in borough

Sep. 27—A Schuylkill Haven man was charged in connection with a stabbing incident early Sunday at D&D Bar in the borough.

Danny Gonzalez, 46, of 39 Fritz Reed Ave., faces a slew of charges, including a felony count of criminal attempted homicide, for allegedly stabbing a man during an altercation at the bar at 16 St. John St.

In an affidavit, Schuylkill Haven police Patrolman Preston Gehring said that he had been dispatched to the bar at 2:19 a.m. Sunday for a report of an altercation involving a stab victim. Gehring was also contacted by Orwigsburg police officer Bryce Lewis, who said that he was en route to the scene.

Upon entering the bar, Gehring said, he saw the victim, Robert Wagner, 49, with blood on his chest.

A bartender described the attacker as a heavyset Hispanic male wearing a New York Yankees jersey with the number 4 on the back.

Gehring had Lewis and a Penn State Schuylkill police officer patrol the area while he searched for the suspect. Meanwhile, he said, EMS arrived on scene and began treating the victim for the stab wound.

Wagner told Gehring that he didn't know who the attacker was or why he was attacked, and was subsequently transported to Reading Hospital.

Gehring said he was informed that Geisinger St. Luke's Hospital near Orwigsburg had received a male with a stab wound on his right hand who fit the description of the suspect.

Gehring and Lewis then went to the hospital, where they met Gonzalez in an examination room. Gehring said the suspect's right hand was wrapped in "what appeared to be gauze wrap," and he had blood stains on the front of his jersey.

Gonzalez told Gehring that there had been an argument at the bar stemming from a Philadelphia Eagles game, after which he was stabbed in the hand.

"Danny Gonzalez persisted, stating that he didn't really know what happened," Gehring said.

After Gonzalez was cleared from the hospital, Gehring took him to his patrol vehicle, which was parked near a Penn State Schuylkill patrolman's vehicle.

Gehrig said the patrolman had detained Eddie Arroyo Rivera, who was asked to recount his version of the events.

Arroyo told the officer that he and his girlfriend had been sitting in their car outside 39 Fritz Reed Ave. — Gonzalez's residence — when the suspect "came up to his car covered in blood."

Arroyo said he and his girlfriend then drove Gonzalez to Geisinger St. Luke's.

Officers searched Arroyo's car and found a kitchen knife, which was later determined to be different from the one used in the stabbing.

The officers told Arroyo and his girlfriend they were free to leave the hospital and took Gonzalez into a holding cell at the Schuylkill Haven police station.

Gehring and Lewis then went back to D&D, where the owner, Lou Spitler, showed them video footage of the incident.

The footage showed Gonzalez walking toward Wagner. Gonzalez threw a right "haymaker" at Wagner and continued striking at him in the corner of the bar, according to Gehring.

After being separated, the two continued to argue, and Gonzalez pulled out what appeared to be a tactical folding pivot knife, while Wagner wielded a pool stick, Gehring said.

After being struck with the pool stick, Gonzalez punched Wagner and struck him in the upper chest with the knife, Gehring said.

The video then showed Gonzalez exiting the bar through the rear of the building, while Wagner was seen taking his shirt off to examine his wound, Gehring said.

During an interview with Schuylkill Haven police, Gonzalez said he had heard that Wagner was allegedly bullying people at the bar.

Gonzalez said "he did not like bullies" because his autistic son had just dealt with a bully at school, Gehring said.

The suspect told police that he had "probably" thrown his knife in the Schuylkill River after the incident, according to Gehring.

In a subsequent interview by Schuylkill Haven Police Sgt. Glenn Firing, Wagner confirmed what had been shown in the video footage at D&D Bar.

Wagner alleged that, during the altercation, Gonzalez had threatened to kill him.

As a result of the incident, Gonzalez faces felony counts of criminal attempted homicide and aggravated assault; and misdemeanor counts of tampering with physical evidence, simple assault, possession of instrument of crime, reckless endangerment and terroristic threats.

He was arraigned Sunday by Magisterial District Judge A.J. Serina, Orwigsburg, and was jailed in Schuylkill County Prison without bail.

A preliminary hearing for Gonzalez is scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 6 before Serina.

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085