Christopher Schmidt

CLINTON TWP — A man is accused of repeatedly ramming his wife's car with his pickup truck during a domestic dispute Sunday morning at their home on Deer Creek Road.

The victim at one point was “afraid her vehicle was going to come crashing into the house she was in,” state police said.

Police arrested Christopher J. Schmidt, 41, who also allegedly wielded a hammer to break the taillights of his wife's car.

District Judge William Fullerton arraigned Schmidt on a felony charge of risking a catastrophe and misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.

He was released on his own recognizance with the conditions that he have no contact with his wife. He also is prohibited from making social media posts to her or about her.

Police said they were called to the couple's home about 8 a.m. The 42-year-old victim told authorities that she was awakened from sleep by her husband backing his truck into her car.

Schmidt is accused of ramming the rear of the car at high speeds at least five times, according to charging documents.

“The victim's vehicle was struck so hard that it moved approximately 2 feet from the initial parked position,” Trooper Katelyn Statzer said in her affidavit.

The woman told police that she feared for her life.

Investigators said the defendant got out of his truck with a hammer in his hand. He walked up to the car and smashed out the taillights.

He was in the main house when police arrived. They said they had to call Schmidt to come out.

The woman Sunday obtained an emergency protection from abuse order against her husband. She was granted a temporary PFA on Monday.