Bethel Township man charged for domestic assault, hours-long standoff

David Strause II, 43, surrendered to authorities Tuesday morning after an overnight domestic assault led to a nearly eight-hour standoff with Pennsylvania State Police.

Troopers were dispatched to a residence on the 1300 block of Mountain Drive in Bethel Township around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday for a report of an active domestic assault, according to the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office.

The caller told 911 dispatchers that she and Strause had returned home from a local bar, where he had consumed multiple whiskeys, and they argued over the caller’s ex-boyfriend. Once home, Strause became irate, shoved her onto a bed, and struck her in the face with a handgun, splitting her lip, police said.

The woman fled to the basement and called 911, but Strause grabbed her cellphone and smashed it, authorities said. Dispatchers reported hearing Strause yell in the background, “This is how you want it to end, get out!”

The woman escaped to her vehicle, and as she reversed to flee, she heard what sounded like a gunshot. Responding troopers also heard the shot and later found damage to the vehicle consistent with gunfire, police said.

State police, including the Aviation Unit and Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), responded and staged on scene while negotiating with Strause, who refused to surrender on multiple occasions. Public roadways were closed for safety.

Strause surrendered around 9 a.m. following a negotiation with SERT.

He faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and disorderly conduct. Magisterial District Judge Anthony Verna will preside over his preliminary arraignment.

“The victim was lucky to escape without being shot; the multitude of State Police Troopers on scene are lucky to do the same,” District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said in a statement.

Hess Graf said domestic violence incidents are always the most dangerous for victims and police.

“We thank the State Police for a safely negotiated ending to what could have been an extremely violent incident,” she said.

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information should contact the Jonestown State Police Barracks or the District Attorney’s Office.