An Ephrata man is charged with assault after he allegedly hit his brother in the face with a shovel and threw a large rock at him last month. Gerald S. Hanna Jr., 37, of Turtle Hill Road, was arrested Tuesday and is charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
The arrest comes after an assault that occurred between Hanna and his brother, 36-year-old Thomas Martin, on June 29 in East Earl Township. Police say the pair were fighting at their parents home along the 700 block of Maple Grove Road.
During the altercation police say Hanna hit Martin in the face with a shovel. As Martin ran away–Hanna picked up a large rock and threw it at Martin–hitting him in the head, police said.
Officers arrived at the scene and found Martin semi-conscious. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police say he had a fractured skull and other injuries. .
Martin has since been released from the hospital and returned home to Maryland.
Hanna was taken to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.