Boalsburg Man Faces Assault Charge

Police say a Boalsburg man attacked a woman during an argument and punched and shattered a window of her car when she was attempting to flee.

According to a criminal complaint filed by State College Police, the woman and Jose A. Blanchard, 33, were involved in an argument on Sunday night at a Boalsburg residence when Blanchard approached the woman while she was seated in a chair and placed his hand around her throat. Police said he applied steady pressure to her throat while pushing her to the side of the chair.

The woman allegedly told police she was scared by the look in Blanchard’s eyes and feared he would cause her serious injury or kill her. She screamed and Blanchard let her go, according to the complaint. She then got up and grabbed her car keys so that she could flee, police said.

After she got in her car and locked the doors, Blanchard allegedly approached and punched the passenger-side window, causing it to shatter. The woman drove away and called 911, and Blanchard was later located and taken into custody, according to the complaint.

Blanchard was charged with misdemeanor simple assault, as well as summary harassment and criminal mischief. He was arraigned before District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker on Monday morning, with bail set at $75,000.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 5.