Emmaus Man Beat Teen in Head with Metal Pipe, Police Say

A 37-year-old Emmaus man is accused of beating a teenager over the head with a metal pipe during a fight in the borough on Friday night, according to court records.

Jason Powell of 425 Ridge St. and a teenager confronted two other teenage boys on the 500 block of North Street at about 11 p.m., police said. Powell was holding a metal pipe and his accomplice was holding a wooden baseball bat.

After a brief verbal exchange, the two teenage boys tried to run away. But the bat-wielding teen caught up to one of the victims and hit him in the back and left arm, breaking the bat during the assault, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The other teenage victim told police he went tried to help his friend by pulling the assailant off of him. But as he ran away, he was hit in the back of the head and fell to the ground, police said.

He turned to face his attacker, which was Powell, police said. Powell then repeatedly hit him with the metal pipe, while the other attacker kicked him several times, according to the affidavit.

One teenage victim suffered a large laceration and bleeding wounds to his head. The other suffered large bruises on his back and arm. Both victims complained of severe pain and were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital Center—Cedar Crest.

Powell was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault—one for using a deadly weapon, the other for causing a serious injury, and one count each of simple assault, corruption of minors and possession of the instrument of a crime.

Powell was arraigned Monday night before on-duty District Judge Wayne Maura of Bethlehem who denied bail for the defendant, who was committed to Lehigh County Prison.

A notation in the online court records said the reason for denying bail was that Powell “appears to be dangerous” and allegedly violated his state parole or probation.