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Patton standoff suspect charged in earlier incident

Rematt faces kidnap, assault, threat counts in domestic dispute

The Patton man taken into custody following a standoff with state police Tuesday was already facing charges stemming from a different altercation Saturday.

Joseph R. Rematt, 33, was charged with kidnap to inflict terror, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, simple assault, disorderly conduct, possessing an instrument of crime, terroristic threats and harassment for the incident on Saturday.

According to the criminal affidavit, police were dispatched to the 1100 block of Fourth Avenue in Patton Borough on Saturday after a man allegedly fled his home following a domestic violence dispute.

The victim told police he was in bed with his fiancee when Rematt entered the room with a flashlight, demanding to know where a picture that hung on the wall had gone, the affidavit states.

According to court documents, when the fiancee told Rematt she took the picture down, Rematt allegedly began physically assaulting the victim, who retreated to a friend’s house.

The victim told police the last thing he saw was his fiancee being physically assaulted by Rematt, the affidavit states.

Police examined the victim’s face and noted he had large red bumps above his right cheek and his left eye. He also had a bloody nose and several scratches on his face, according to the affidavit.

The woman alleged Rematt held her down on the floor against her will and would not let her leave. Court records state Rematt allegedly locked her in the bathroom from the outside and had a long gun slung over his shoulder when he opened the door.

Rematt allegedly made her lie in a hallway and wouldn’t let her leave before reportedly barricading himself in the attic upstairs.

The woman ran outside when the police arrived, frantically waving her arms back and forth in an attempt to signal for help, the affidavit states.

It’s unclear whether Rematt remained armed and barricaded in the attic for several days before the standoff with state police ensued Tuesday.

After about four hours, Rematt was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Cambria County Prison, where he was arraigned Tuesday night on charges related to the domestic violence dispute.

Charges related to the standoff with state police Tuesday are still pending.

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