Robert Coulter

MARION TWP — A teenager was arrested after he allegedly punched his younger brother at the siblings' home Tuesday night and then tried to run from state police.

Robert T. Coulter, 18, landed in the Butler County Prison.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned him Wednesday on misdemeanor charges of flight to avoid apprehension and disorderly conduct, and a summary charge of disorderly conduct.

Police said they were called to the Coulter home on Boyers Road about 11:10 p.m. for a reported fight. Troopers found the victim, who they identified as Coulter's juvenile brother.

The boy, 16, told police that “his brother had started a fight with him for no reason,” according to charging documents.

He said his brother punched him several times before chasing him through the yard.

While police tried to make contact with Coulter, he fled out the back door, documents stated. He was caught after a short chase and placed in the prison.

Stoughton later arraigned him via video. Bail was set at $30,000, with Stoughton also ordering Coulter to have no contact with his brother.

The incident Tuesday was the second time in four days that police were called to the Coulter home.

On Aug. 9, troopers showed up there for a report of shots fired.

Police eventually arrested Joshua J. Howland, 30, of Washington Township, who is accused of firing a pistol outside the home during an altercation with Coulter. No one was hurt.

Howland claimed he went to the home to confront Coulter, who he believed had recently driven through a friend's yard, according to court documents.

He admitted getting into an argument with Coulter and firing several rounds into the ground, police said, when he feared that the teen had gone into the home to get a gun.

He drove away but police later found him on Route 38 in Washington Township.

Howland is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. He is free on $50,000 bail.