Hearing for Polk Center Employee Charged With Assaulting Resident Set for Wednesday

| May 2, 2021

VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) – A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday for a Polk Center employee who is charged with two assaults on a resident of the facility.

Court documents indicate 29-year-old Ryan Charles Fike, of Franklin, is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in Venango County Central Court in front of Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5.

He faces the following charges:

– Neglect of Care-Dependent Person, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)
– Strikes, shoves, kicks, or attempts/threatens care-dependent person, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)
– Endangers welfare of care-depending person for whom responsible, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Misdemeanor 3 (two counts)
– Disorderly Conduct Engage in Fighting, Misdemeanor 3 (two counts)

The charges stem from an incident that occurred at Polk State Center in March.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, a known individual reported that on March 18, he witnessed Ryan Fike hitting a known care-dependent victim on the side of the head with a log, then hitting the victim on the side of the head with his hand, and finally throwing him over a chair at a cottage at Polk State Center.

A second witness also reported that Fike hit the victim on the side of the head with his hand and pushed the victim over a chair, the complaint states.

Both of the first two witnesses told police the victim yelled out in pain when struck, the complaint notes.

A third witness also reportedly stated that on March 20, Fike pushed the same victim, causing him to fall onto the ground.

The victim was in the care of Fike, who was employed by Polk State Center, where the victim resides, during both of the reported incidents, the complaint continues.

The log used in the initial incident was reported to be approximately 23 inches long and nine inches around and was later found in the area where other individuals living in the indicated cottage said it would be, according to the complaint.

The charges were filed against Fike through Judge Kirtland’s office on March 30.


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