A Tamaqua man was placed in the Schuylkill County prison in Pottsville on Oct. 7 after using a samurai sword to threaten and attack people.

Tamaqua police were called to the 300 block of Hazle Street for a domestic incident involving a sword. While officers were responding, a second call came in involving an assault on Cottage Avenue. It turned out both calls involved Richard Franklin Houser, 54, of 228 W. Cottage Ave.

Houser started the night on Cottage Avenue, where he punched a man and knocked the cellphone from the victim’s hand. Houser went into his home, came out with the sword and threatened to cut off the victim’s face.

Houser fled the area and went to Hazle Street, where he entered a home and threatened the residents while they were having dinner. After threatening the man and his wife verbally, Houser poked the man in the stomach using the sword. As he continued brandishing the sword, the victim tried to wrestle it away. He was struck again, this time in the head and face. Houser also tried to choke him.

The victim was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital, Coaldale, by ambulance.

Houser was arraigned before duty District Judge David Plachko, of Port Carbon, on charges of aggravated and simple assault, strangulation, making terroristic threats, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted assault, reckless endangerment, possessing an instrument of crime and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Plachko set bail at $50,000 straight cash, which Houser was unable to post.