Man Beat Pregnant Woman At Chesco Roadside, Police Say

WEST WHITELAND TOWNSHIP, PA — A Delaware County man accused by police of assaulting a pregnant woman, throwing her out of her vehicle and taking off in her car faces a felony assault charge in Chester County, where the alleged crime happened.

The alleged assault happened in West Whiteland Township just before 1 p.m. on April 14 near the intersection of Pottstown Pike and Rt. 100, according to police.

James J. Smith, 25, is charged with felony aggravated assault, attempting to cause serious bodily injury, or causing injury with extreme indifference.

West Whiteland Township Police Det. Scott Pezick said a witness reported seeing a woman being hit and thrown from a vehicle that afternoon and called police. Officers spoke with the woman at the scene of the alleged crimes. Pezick said she was injured and she told police she'd been assaulted and that Smith took her car.

The victim told police she knew that Smith lived in Chester, in Delaware County, and so Pezick said Chester police were alerted to look for him. Chester police found the vehicle, the detective reported. Smith was located and charged. Bail was set at $35,000, police reported.

He awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 6.

Smith is also charged with simple assault, and simple assault-recklessly endangering another, harrassment by subjecting another to physical contact, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to court records.