Cops: Hempfield man arrested for assaulting woman

A woman had to be airlifted to a Pittsburgh hospital this week for treatment of a serious head injury after allegedly being assaulted by a Hempfield man, state police said.

Brian J. Halko, 38, was charged by state police with aggravated assault, criminal mischief, harassment and simple assault after the incident that occurred late Tuesday in Halko’s Lancewood Place home.

Trooper Michael Thompson reported in court documents that Halko and the woman were arguing about text messages Halko found on the victim’s phone. Police allege Halko broke the phone during the altercation and then pushed the victim to the ground causing her to strike her head on the floor.

The victim was bleeding, unconscious and had to be treated by troopers until Mutual Aid paramedics arrived, Thompson said. She was airlifted by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment, according to police reports.

She was interviewed about the incident later Wednesday at the hospital after she was treated and regained consciousness, court records said.

Halko was arraigned before District Judge Charles R. Conway and released on $150,000 unsecured bond, pending a preliminary July 7 before District Judge Tony Bompiani.