Monday, January 12, 2015

Allentown chiropractor kicks girlfriend, tosses her down stairs, police say

News article about Dean Ziegler of Ziegler Chiropractic


September 28, 2011|By Frank Warner, Of The Morning Call
An Allentown chiropractor last week attacked his girlfriend at his office-home, punching her, breaking her nose with a kick and throwing her down a flight of stairs, police said.

Dean K. Ziegler, 49, of 101 S. 14th St. was arraigned Tuesday night on charges of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment for the alleged Sept. 20 beating of Jill Aleene Bartholf, 34, of Allentown.

Ziegler so badly battered Bartholf that when police arrived at 3:40 a.m. they found blood in front of the house, blood on the first and second floors, and Bartholf sitting on a couch, bruised and bleeding from her nose, according to the police arrest affidavit.

Ziegler fled in his car before officers showed up, the affidavit says. He was arrested later. Bartholf was taken by Allentown EMS to St. Luke's Hospital, Allentown.

The affidavit does not say what led to the beating, in which Ziegler allegedly chased Bartholf through the house, slugging and kicking her at every turn. Ziegler was Bartholf's boyfriend of more than a year, police said.

Doctors found Bartholf's nose was broken in two places and had a deep gash, the affidavit says. The injuries were the result of Ziegler's kicking her nose at least once with his boot, police said.

Bartholf also had a long, deep scratch over her right shoulder, several other cuts and scratches, and swelling in areas that took the punches, kicks and the fall down the stairs, according to the affidavit.

District Judge Karen Devine committed Ziegler to Lehigh County Prison. He was released Wednesday on $15,000 bail.

In addition to aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, he is charged with simple assault and harassment.

— Frank Warner