The Cranberry Eagle
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 Article published January 7, 2013

Attorney claims couple innocent in assault case
Police criticized for its handling

Jim Smith
Butler Eagle

JACKSON TWP — The attorney for a man and woman accused of assaulting another woman last week criticized police for not talking to his clients before arresting them on Christmas Day.
Attorney Stephen Misko also claimed David Prosser Jr., 29, of Connoquenessing Township and Amanda L. Drushel, 27, of Jackson Township are innocent of any wrongdoing.
“They both were trying to defend themselves,” Misko said Tuesday.
Jackson Township police charged the defendants with attacking Sarah Cahall at Drushel’s Ridge Road apartment on Dec. 24.
Cahall told police she went to Drushel’s home where she believed she would find Prosser, according to court documents.
She told police that Prosser was her boyfriend. However, Mikso said the couple’s relationship had ended about two months before the incident.
Cahall said Drushel invited her inside the apartment, but Misko claimed Cahall “forcibly entered” the home.
“Drushel doesn’t even know Cahall,” Misko said.
According to the police complaint, Drushel a short time later attacked Cahall, hitting her in the face several times.
Cahall told police that she managed to defend herself and threw Drushel to the floor.
But, Cahall said, Prosser joined in the assault and jumped on top of her, choking and punching her. Additionally, she told police that Drushel stabbed her in the leg with a pair of scissors.
But Misko described Cahall as the aggressor and argued that his clients “acted in self-defense.”
Cahall eventually left Drushel’s apartment and filed a complaint with police. Police arrested the defendants Dec. 25.
Both were placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail. Drushel posted bail and was released later that day. Prosser was released the next day after posting his bail.
“The investigating officer should have elicited statements from my clients to determine what happened,” Misko said, “rather than take the word of Cahall.”
Michael Murcko, the investigating officer, did not return telephone calls seeking comment about the case.
Preliminary hearings for Prosser and Drushel are set for 10:20 a.m. Tuesday.