Assault Charges After Fight Over Texting in Church, Police Say

A Villanova man faces assault charges after officers say he tackled a family member outside St. Thomas Monastery on April 5, according to a report from Radnor police.

Michel Orsinger, 57, faces two charges of simple assault and disorderly conduct, plus a summary charge of harassment following the incident.

According to the report, a family member saw Orsinger sending text messages while seated in the church and asked to speak with him outside. She allegedly took the phone from Orsinger’s hands and ran off. When he caught up to her, police say Orsinger pulled her hair, then tackled her after she broke free.

Witnesses told police that Orsinger twisted the victim’s arm while trying to get the phone back and had to be pulled away. He has been released on $30,000 bail.

Additional crimes reported by Radnor police include:

March 31, 2015, bike reported stolen from a home on Lancaster Avenue in Villanova. A resident told officers that she witnessed a man stealing her husband’s bike.

April 1, 2015, a resident told police he received a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS. The caller reportedly told the victim he had to purchase $3,000 Green Dot cards in order to pay what he owed. The victim says he recovered $2,500 after realizing it was a scam.

April 8, 2015, A laptop computer was reported stolen from the Villanova University Law School Library when the victim left in a desk while checking the printer. Keys, a wallet and a phone were with the computer and were not taken.

April 9, 2015, a woman told Radnor police that her daughter’s Instagram was hacked and someone created a hate page.