Duncansville Man Jailed For Alleged Claysburg Apartment Break-In

A Duncansville man who police said broke into a Claysburg apartment and assaulted a woman is behind bars.

On Feb. 19, Greenfield and Freedom Township police were called to an apartment along Penndale Avenue, Claysburg, for a report of a break-in and assault.

When police arrived, the female victim said she was watching television when a man, identified as Jamie T. Barnes of Duncansville, began "obnoxiously" ringing her doorbell and yelling for someone to open the door.

When the victim went to the door, Barnes allegedly "violently opened" it, causing the victim to lose her balance and fall backward, injuring her back.

When the victim attempted to get up, Barnes allegedly grabbed her around the throat and pushed her back down while squeezing her throat, making it difficult for her to breath.

The victim's daughter came down the steps and startled Barnes, who then took a set of keys and ran out of the apartment to a truck that was loaned previously to the victim.

Barnes, who has a suspended license due to a driving-under-the-influence conviction, got into the truck and sped away, narrowly missing another vehicle.

Barnes faces charges of felony criminal trespass along with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct and strangulation.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger, Martinsburg, and committed to the Blair County Prison on $7,500 cash bail. His preliminary hearing is Feb. 28.