Juvenile charged as adult in alleged assault in Freeland

A Coaldale juvenile has been charged as an adult with seven counts, including two counts of aggravated assault and one charge of evading arrest, following an incident Thursday evening in Freeland.

Christopher J. Kreimendah allegedly struck a young woman with a metal baseball bat Thursday evening, was informed of his impending arrest Friday afternoon, then attempted to flee from Freeland police.

According to the criminal complaint:

Two groups of people parked Thursday evening near the site of Freeland Public Park, where two women were expected to physically fight after an alleged ongoing argument. One of the women brandished or mentioned having a knife.

After learning about the knife, the other woman fled the immediate area. At that point, Kreimendahl allegedly approached the victim and hit the left side of his head with a metal baseball bat.

Separate testimony said the other woman was the one wielding the baseball bat and struck the victim.

The baseball bat victim was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Hazleton and treated for his injuries, although surveillance footage recovered the next day did not reveal who, if anyone, had called emergency services on scene. The injuries were later described as “serious” and the victim was transported by helicopter to a trauma center for further treatment.

The other woman was called to the Frackville PSP, where she said it was Kreimendahl who hit the victim with the metal baseball bat.

Officers then attended Coaldale to, pursuant to a warrant, search the vehicle in which the baseball bat was allegedly held. There, officers found a baseball bat meeting the referenced description and it was seized.

On Friday, police officers who attended the scene of the alleged assault said droplets of blood, likely from the argument the night before, were still visible. The aforementioned surveillance footage was viewed at that time, confirming that Kreimendahl had arrived on scene slightly later than the two women and that he was the one who wielded the bat.

During his interrogation Friday afternoon, Kreimendahl admitted to hitting the victim, in an attempt to “protect” the other woman. The criminal complaint notes that at no point during the conflict did they appear to be in immediate danger.

It was determined that the severity of the assault required Kreimendahl to be charged as an adult. After being informed of his impending arrest, Kreimendahl allegedly fled the Freeland Borough Police Department building and headed onto the streets of the borough. He was eventually located and taken into custody.

Kreimendahl's bond was set at $200,000, which was missed, and is being held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 3 and will be overseen by Judicial District Judge Daniel O'Donnell. A review hearing is scheduled for July 18 and will be overseen by Luzerne County Judge Michael Vough.

In total, Kreimendahl was charged with two counts of aggravated assault; two counts of common assault; escape arrest or detention on foot; possession of instruments of crime; and harassment – ​​subjecting others to physical contact.