Crime & Safety

Broken Neck Threat Leads to Arrest, Police Say

Nicholas William Binczak, 18, of Lower Saucon Township, was charged with terroristic threats, stalking, harassment and criminal conspiracy after he allegedly threatened to break a Hellertown man's neck.

For a Hellertown man, his call to police about two men threatening him came in the nick of time, for it allowed an officer to hear one of the suspects say he was going to “break the victim’s (expletive) neck,” court records say.

Not long after that, police stopped a 1993 Volvo and arrested Nicholas William Binczak, 18, and Christopher Michael Skelly, 19, both of Lower Saucon Township.

When police arrived at the victim’s home in the 1300 block of Whitaker Street around 10am Thursday, they heard Binczak tell the victim by phone that he was almost at his house with "his boys," the records say.

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Borough Patrolman John Donato wrote in a criminal complaint that the Volvo was northbound on Whitaker, headed toward the victim’s house. When it came within Donato’s view, it turned off Whitaker and “fled.”

Binczak called back, and this time the call was on speakerphone. He said he was going to break the victim’s neck because the victim had called police “to have him arrested,” the complaint says.

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When another officer stopped the car, Shelly was driving and Binczak was a passenger. Both told police Binczak was on his way to the victim’s house and Skelly agreed to drive him.

The complaint did not say what triggered the alleged threats.

Binczak, of the 1900 block of Pine Court, was charged with terroristic threats, stalking, harassment and criminal conspiracy. Skelly, of the 1300 block of Stonesthrow Road, was charged with stalking.

Both men were arraigned Thursday afternoon by District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez of Bethlehem.

Binczak was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. Skelly was released after posting $5,000 bail.


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