Cops: Good Samaritan assisted domestic violence victim at Lynch Field in Greensburg

A Good Samaritan at Greensburg’s Lynch Field helped a woman Thursday after she was choked and beaten by her boyfriend in a pavilion, according to city police.

Chad T. Abbott, 25, who has recently lived in Burgettstown, Washington County, was arrested on charges of simple assault, strangulation, terroristic threats, false imprisonment and harassment. He was arraigned before night court Judge Michael Mahady and ordered to the Westmoreland County Prison on $25,000 bail.

Patrolman Justin Scalzo said the woman was taken by ambulance to Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital after the 11:30 a.m. incident for multiple cuts, bruises and abrasions and released.

The victim told police she was with Abbott, who she described as her boyfriend, and the couple began arguing. She alleged Abbott began choking and striking her, “hitting her with a shoe and water bottle, until she fled into a bathroom near the walking track.”

Another woman in the restroom called police, Scalzo said.

“(The Good Samaritan) who called police stated she saw red marks around the victim’s neck and noticed she was visibly upset,” Scalzo wrote in court documents.

Multiple witnesses, including the Good Samaritan, told police that while the victim was in the bathroom, Abbott was outside yelling for her to come out and threatening to harm her.

When police arrived, Scalzo said Abbott ran toward the nearby railroad tracks and the department’s police dog, Falco, chased him. Abbott was taken into custody by Patrolman Jason Dieter.

Although Abbott has given authorities a Burgettstown address, Scalzo said he is homeless and has been living in a tent in a remote area between the Humane Society of Westmoreland County and Lynch Field.

Abbott’s preliminary hearing is scheduled Sept. 12 before District Judge Chris Flanigan in Greensburg.