Argument about Thanksgiving ends with men arrested
CENTER TWP — A quarrel over Thanksgiving plans apparently ignited a family fight Tuesday afternoon during which a father allegedly pulled a handgun on his daughter’s boyfriend.
The pre-holiday hubbub ended with state police arresting both men — 59-year-old David J. Hawryliak and 21-year-old Gregory D. Beer Jr.
No shots were fired but the altercation at the home in the 400 block of Holyoke Road in Center Township was not without casualties.
Hawryliak and his daughter, 20-year-old Hannah Hawryliak, both suffered minor injuries.
And on the eve of the traditional feast, Beer was stuck in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail. Hawryliak remains free on $30,000 unsecured bail.
Police suspect an argument shortly before 3:40 p.m. between Beer and his girlfriend, Hannah Hawryliak, started the fracas.
The couple lives with David Hawryliak at the home that he also owns.
“Hannah advised this all started over a conversation about Thanksgiving,” according to court documents.
She said her boyfriend got into an argument in their bedroom. The couple’s 14-month-old daughter was in the room nearby.
Beer allegedly pushed Hannah off the bed and then threw a full water bottle at her. The bottle hit her on the side of her forehead, causing a lump.
She recounted that her boyfriend grabbed their child, holding the baby “between his arm and against the side” as he headed upstairs, documents said,
About that time, police said, David Hawryliak returned home and heard the couple quarrelling. He described Beer as holding his granddaughter like a “rag doll,” according to a police affidavit.
He confronted his daughter’s boyfriend, grabbing Beer by the shoulders. The men scuffled and Beer ended on top of Hawryliak.
The younger man pushed his hands onto Hawryliak’s face, causing a bloody cut on the older man’s nose and lip area.
Eventually, Beer got up and went outside. Moments later, documents said, he began vandalizing Hawryliak’s pickup truck. The truck’s left rear door and window were damaged.
Hawryliak told police that he retrieved his 9 mm pistol and ran out toward Beer.
“David explained he did display the handgun to Gregory,” the affidavit said, “however never directly pointed the unloaded handgun at (Beer).”
Afterward, Hawryliak recounted, he went back into the house and damaged Beer’s flat-screen television.
Police arrested both men. District Judge Lewis Stoughton later arraigned the defendants.
Hawryliak is charged with terroristic threats, criminal mischief and harassment.
Beer is charged with two counts each of reckless endangerment, simple assault and harassment, along with criminal mischief.
