KULPMONT - Police say a knife-wielding mother was reportedly high on bath salts when she bloodied herself by breaking through a glass window at a borough home.
Candice Renee Adzema, 35, of 1257 Poplar St., Kulpmont, was arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones on 11 criminal charges, including felony aggravated assault. She was unable to post $25,000 bail and was sent to jail.
Police were dispatched about 1:50 p.m. April 6 to 1117 Poplar St. for a report of a woman high on bath salts and armed with a knife. Glass was strewn about the front porch upon arrival, screams were heard from inside the house, and neighbors had gathered outside and on porches nearby, according to a criminal complaint. The disturbance reportedly began at a Poplar Street home one block away.
Adzema allegedly resisted arrest and is accused of kicking Kulpmont Police Chief Michael Pitcavage in the head as she lay on the ground while he attempted to handcuff her. A second officer, Mount Carmel Township Patrolman David Tomtishen, had to help carry her to another part of the home and cuff her wrists, according to a criminal complaint.
A witness told police she believed Adzema was using bath salts, and had become paranoid about the welfare of her children. She allegedly broke through the home's window when two witnesses locked Adzema on the front porch and away from her daughter. Once through, police say Adzema waived a pocket knife at the witnesses.
Adzema is charged by Pitcavage with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of burglary, all felonies, along with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, endangering welfare of a child, possessing instruments of crime, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. She also faces summary counts of criminal mischief, harassment and public drunkenness, which can be charged against a person accused of being under the influence of a controlled substance.
A preliminary hearing before Jones is scheduled for Wednesday.