Tennessee man accused of assaulting man with a brick in Reading
May 13—Reading police arrested a 24-year-old Tennessee man shortly after they said he hit a man in the face with a brick as the victim sat on the steps of his residence Sunday afternoon.
Jose Cortes of Loudon was taken into custody in the 800 block of Walnut Street after the incident shortly before 1 p.m.
He was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment before District Judge David L. Yoch in Reading Central Court. Cortes had not posted bail as of Monday afternoon, according to online court records.
Cortes was charged with aggravated and simple assault, and possessing an instrument of crime.
According to police:
The victim told police that he met his girlfriend's brother and his friend, later identified as Cortes, outside the victim's home. They began to argue about past incidents.
For an unknown reason, he said, Cortes walked over to him and hit him in the face with a brick, then left. The victim said he felt as if he was going to pass out immediately after being struck.
A police officer noticed small pieces of a brick next to where the victim said he had been sitting.
It wasn't clear if the victim needed emergency medical treatment.
