LYKENS - A man is in Dauphin County Prison after holding his wife and son captive and beating them with a metal crutch before attempting to kill his wife with medication.
Bradley S. Herb, 49, of 150 Sunshine Lane, was arraigned and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, unlawful restraint and terroristic threats by Pennsylvania State Police trooper John Mallon of the Lykens barracks. Herb was placed in prison on $500,000 bail.
The incident began at 9 a.m. Sunday as an argument between Herb and his wife, who was not identified by police. Police say the argument quickly escalated to a physical assault on the wife, but the couple's juvenile son tried to step in to help his mother, but was also assaulted by Herb.
Both victims were barricaded inside the home by Herb, where he continued to beat his wife and child with a metal crutch, along with his hands and feet, according to police. Herb allegedly used zip ties to bind their arms and legs and forced the wife to ingest more than 30 Vicodin pills.
Police say Herb then ingested prescription pills and passed out.
While Herb was unconscious, the boy freed himself and his mother. The two fled the residence and, with the assistance of a neighbor, called 911 at approximately 4:15 p.m.
Herb and his wife were talked to different hospitals for treatment.