Police: Man assaulted, choked son

A 55-year-old Hatfield Borough man is behind bars after he allegedly assaulted and choked his 13-year-old son Saturday night, according to police.

John Frank Gamble, of the first block of Roosevelt Avenue, was arrested and charged with first-degree felony counts of aggravated assault and strangulation, as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault and reckless endangerment and two related summary counts, in connection with the May 13 incident that occurred inside his home, court documents indicate.

Cops responded to the residence around 10 p.m. on Saturday after the boy’s mother called police to report that Gamble, who she said was intoxicated and had broken a number of items in the home, had assaulted his son, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The woman told police that Gamble had been drinking alcohol since that morning and “went after” his son for no reason, chasing the boy into his bedroom and wrapping his arms around his son’s head to the point where the child could not breathe, the affidavit states. The woman said she had to pull Gamble off of his son, according to the affidavit.

The boy, who had cuts to his neck, chest and upper lip, told police that he sustained the injuries after his father attacked him, and said that during the assault he could not breathe for approximately seven to eight seconds, according to court documents.

Cops said Gamble showed several signs of alcohol intoxication, and they observed broken glass throughout the home, as well as a shattered hamster enclosure and smashed picture frames.

Gamble was taken into custody and arraigned on the half-dozen criminal counts, then incarcerated at Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing in Lansdale district court is scheduled for May 25.