Police say New Kensington man restrained, assaulted woman in Springdale

Springdale police filed charges against a New Kensington man who, they say, broke into a woman’s apartment and assaulted her while he was still on probation for a previous incident against her.

Zachery Darnell Hickman, 34, faces a felony burglary charge and misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, simple assault and false imprisonment stemming from an incident Sunday evening in Springdale.

Police were dispatched at 5:30 p.m. Sunday to the 200 block of Hartrey Street for a report of an assault, according to a criminal complaint.

Springdale police made contact with a woman who said Hickman came into her apartment while she was sleeping, the complaint said. The woman said she has had an “abusive history” with Hickman, police said.

She told police Hickman woke her up, dragged her out of bed and put his hand on her throat and began to scream in her face, the complaint said. He accused her of stealing his money and drugs, police said.

The woman told police she tried to leave the apartment, but Hickman blocked the door, the complaint said.

The woman said she thought Hickman had stolen a key to gain entry to her apartment because a spare key was missing, the complaint said.

The woman said Hickman has done similar things before and they have a “no contact order,” the complaint said.

When reviewing Hickman’s criminal history, police found he was on probation for prior incidents with the woman, the complaint said.

In 2022, New Kensington police charged Hickman after a similar case, and he was sentenced to two years of probation.

Police filed a warrant Sunday against Hickman. A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.