Punxsutawney Woman Accused of Breaking into Residence, Kicking Police Officers

PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney woman allegedly broke into a residence and then fought against the officers who arrived to arrest her.

According to court documents, the following charges were filed against 42-year-old Sherry Lynn Gomola, of Punxsutawney, on Tuesday, March 19:

  • Aggravated Assault, Felony 1 (two counts)
  • Criminal Trespass-Break Into Structure, Felony 2
  • Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
  • Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2
  • Criminal Mischief/Damage Property Intent, Reckless, Or Negligent, Misdemeanor 3

According to a criminal complaint, around 9:41 p.m. on Monday, March 18, Officers Zeitler and Haines, of Punxsutawney Borough Police Department, were dispatched to a residence on Park Avenue for a report of an intoxicated person in a residence.

The complaint notes that while they were responding, it was reported that the caller was disconnected from 9-1-1.

According to the complaint, when the officers were on Beyer Avenue, they began to hear loud voices of a male and female yelling. Upon their approach to the scene, they observed a broken window on the patio entryway to the residence, facing Beyer Avenue, and as they got closer, discovered a section of the window was open to the residence.

The complaint notes the officers could then hear a male telling a person to stay down and stop kicking him and saw a dog, which they had been advised would be in the residence. They then requested that the male secure the dog, which he did, and the officers were then able to enter the residence.

According to the complaint, the officers then made contact with a female who was on her back on the couch inside the residence kicking at a male nearby.

The complaint notes that the female appeared to be in an altered mental state.

According to the complaint, the female, identified as Sherry Gomola, was advised to stop kicking, but she then kicked Officer Haines in the right thigh. PFC Wittenburg then arrived at the scene and assisted Officer Haines in removing Gomola from the apartment to the ground outside.

Gomola resisted being handcuffed, according to the complaint, and after she was secured, Gomola slipped a handcuff and began to resist again by kicking at the officers. She kicked PFC Whittenburg approximately twice during her arrest and also kicked Officer Haines again, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Gomola refused to place her hands behind her back and continued squirming and kicking around until she ended up face-down. She was then tased by Officer Zeitler, after which she cooperated and was placed in handcuffs again. She was secured in a patrol vehicle and placed in a seat belt, and she was then observed striking her head off the cage in the car and off the steel bars on the window.

The complaint notes that the male victim reported that Gomola gained entry to the residence through the living room window. He stated that she used a lawn chair that was outside to smash the window and then came through it.

She was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 12:28 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19.

Unable to post $5,000.00 monetary bail, she was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, with Judge Mizerock presiding.


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