Harassment, Assault Charges Filed Against Local Boxer

CRAFTON (KDKA) -- Formal charges against Paul Spadafora were filed with the magistrate Thursday, stemming from an incident on Monday night. An affidavit accuses the boxer of throwing a 63-year-old woman down in a Crafton shopping center parking lot.

The victim said her confrontation with Spadafora in the Redstone Tavern started when she realized her beer was gone and asked for another.

She said Spadafora approached her from behind and grabbed her hat. Witnesses reported he then put her in a choke hold.

When the woman went outside to call police she said Spadafoa followed and threw her down.

According to the police report he then stood on the sidewalk and laughed. The victim, who we know only as "Liz," is now concerned for her safety and asked police to not release her name.

The investigating officers filed harassment and simple assault charges against Spadafora, but don't expect to see police taking him away in handcuffs.

"The charges are filed on whats called a summons, they're signed at the magistrate, they're mailed to him, he's given a date and time to turn himself in," said Chief Mark Sumpter with Crafton Police.

KDKA went to Spadafora's home to get his side of the story but no one was home.

His mother told police Spadafora came to the Redstone Monday to celebrate that he was going to be a father again. When she found out where he was, she came to take him home, but not before the alleged incident happened.

She said she told Paul to apologize to the woman before they left.

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