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William Ciccoli Jr., 42, shot Pottstown Police Corporal Anthony Fischer at 269 Chestnut Street in Pottstown Friday afternoon, Nov. 15, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Pottstown Police Chief Michael Markovich said.
At 2:40 p.m., Corporal Fischer and Pottstown Police Officer John Schmalbach were dispatched to the apartment complex for a domestic disturbance. There, they encountered Ciccoli and his girlfriend, P.S., both of whom reside in the apartment.
At the initial encounter, Fischer and Schmalbach separated Ciccoli and P.S., and Schmalbach provided P.S. with domestic violence information and the two agreed to stay away from one another. Schmalbach’s intent was to issue Ciccoli two citations, via mail, for harassment and criminal mischief.
Fischer and Schmalbach were again dispatched to the same apartment for a domestic disturbance, where they again encountered Ciccoli and P.S. As they did on the earlier call, Fischer and Schmalbach separated the parties to ascertain exactly what occurred. P.S. told Schmalbach that Ciccoli grabbed her by the neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. P.S. had marks on her neck and swelling to her left cheek bone, police said.
Schmalbach attempted to take Ciccoli into custody for domestic assault when he charged at Fischer. As Ciccoli physically struggled with Fischer, the corporal can be heard on body cam video saying, “he’s trying to get my gun," Steele said.
Schmalbach deployed his department-issued taser at Ciccoli. Almost simultaneously with the taser deployment, a single gunshot is heard, and Fischer was struck in the right hip area. Fischer's body cam video shows Ciccoli with both hands on his firearm before the gunshot.
Officers administered lifesaving first aid to Fischer, who was taken to the Reading Hospital Trauma Center where he underwent surgery. Fischer is currently in stable condition.
Ciccoli was charged with attempted Murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, and related charges for the attack on Fischer. He's also charged with strangulation, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person for the assault of his girlfriend.
Ciccoli was taken to Montgomery County Correctional Facility and arraigned this Saturday morning, Nov. 16, by Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy. A bail review is scheduled for Nov. 18, at the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 26, before Magisterial District Judge Edward Kropp.
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