Bright Hope Fight Results in Simple Assault, False ID Charges

A fight with a teen resulted in the arrest and conviction of one Pottstown man. When the fight escallated, police said he even swung a broom stick near a child.

Travis Darnell Shaw, 31, of the 400 block of W. King St., formerly of Royersford, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court on Wednesday to four to 23 months along with 50 hours of community service, accoridng to a report in the Pottstown Mercury. Shaw was involved, according to police, in an incident in June 2012 when he sat on the stoop of a 15-year-old girl's home along Myrtle Street in the Bright Hope development.

According to the records, Shaw also lives in the public housing development known as Bright Hope along King Street.

When asked to leave, the Mercury reports, Shaw became angered, yelled and was visibly intoxicated. He provided police with false identification and birthdate. He was asked by the teen and other women in the area to leave, according to police.

“The defendant took this opportunity to retrieve a broom stick and began swinging it wildly,” Pottstown Police Officer John Schmalbach told the Mercury. “During this time, he almost inadvertently struck a 4-year-old child which then caused other people to engage in the dispute in anger over the child almost being struck.”

According to court records, this was not Shaw's first run-in with the law. In 2009 and 2011, Shaw, who previously lived in Royserford as well, was cited for DUI. In April 2012, documents show he was also cited for harrassment and simple assault in April, prior to this June event.

For the full story on Shaw's arrest and court hearing related to the June 2012 incident, visit the Pottstown Mercury's report here.