Both defendants in prison after failing to post bail, police said
A 44-year-old Landenberg man is in custody, accused of a domestic assault that allegedly included sticking a loaded handgun in the victim’s mouth and threatening to pull the trigger, police said.
Police said they responded to the unit block of Bride Court in Landenberg Hunt on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. after a woman reported that she had been physically assaulted. Upon arrival at the residence, the victim displayed head and facial injuries consistent with being punched, police said. The victim said the man shoved a loaded gun in her mouth and threatened to kill her; she also said she believed he was in a bedroom, possibly passed out, with the weapon, police said.
Police, assisted by Pennsylvania State Police and Kennett Square Borough Police Department, said officers entered the residence and safely removed the victim’s teenage daughter, who was still hiding inside. They located Donald DeSanctis in a bedroom with a .357 revolver on the pillow beside him; he was taken into custody without further incident, police said.
DeSanctis was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangering, and related offenses, was remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post $50,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 21, court records said.
New Garden police also responded to a domestic assault on Tuesday. Cristian Martinez-Zurita, 18, of Kennett Square, was arrested after his girlfriend and a relative went to the police station to report that Martinez-Zurita had assaulted her, police said. She stated that she went to visit Martinez-Zurita around 5 p.m. in the 400 block of Cedar Woods Circle and that an argument ensued that became physical, police said. Martinez-Zurita reportedly choked the victim, possibly causing her to black out; she attempted to defend herself with scissors, but Martinez-Zurita took them from her and pointed them at her stomach, police said.
The incident was interrupted by a phone call from a relative of the victim, who was told what was occurring, police said. Officers responded to Martinez-Zurita’s residence and took him into custody. He was remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post $5,000 cash bail, police said.
Bryan Ford, 37 of West Creek, N.J., was cited for harassment following an investigation on Saturday, police said. Officers were called to the 100 block of Cooper Road, where the victim advised he was receiving harassing phone calls and text messages from Ford. Police said they contacted Ford, who admitted making the calls and sending the messages, but claimed he was also the victim of calls and texts from the victim, police said.
All of the charges that you have described in your article were dropped as none of these crimes ever occurred. The alleged victim was on a three day drinking binge, not taking her prescription anti depressant medication and had no memory of any of the events described above. In addition, your reporter embellished the truth indicating that the child was hiding and a gun was on my pillow. No where in the police report does it mention either of those things. Were those things mentioned to make your “story” look more interesting at my expense? In reality, the child was oblivious to all as nothing happened and my pistol was on my night stand where it is every night as I am a permit holder and carry every day for employment. Thanks for creating a story that causes me frequent problems.