Amity landlord arrested for allegedly hitting tenant with hammer over rent money

A Washington County landlord was arrested and sent to prison Thursday for allegedly hitting a Donora man with a hammer because he owed rent money.

Police said Daniel R. Bowman, 31, of East Hillsboro Road, Amity, assaulted Calvin Masten with the weapon Nov. 8 at a Chestnut Street residence before forcing him to sign a paper to turn over a television set and video game console in lieu of the rent.

Donora police Officer Rob Dorcan said Bowman entered Masten’s property as he was sleeping. As Masten was coming to answer the door, Bowman entered the residence and met the alleged victim on a staircase.

Bowman then struck Masten once in the stomach with the hammer before getting on top of him and punching him in the face several times, Dorcan said, adding that Masten suffered several minor injuries.

Bowman then allegedly took Masten’s wallet, keys and phone, along with $50.

After the initial assault, Dorcan said the two men went downstairs where they began negotiating over the rent.

Masten told the officer that when he went to get up for a drink of water, Bowman threw him onto the kitchen table and forced him to sign a paper stating he would give the landlord the TV and a PlayStation 4 to make up for the overdue money.

Bowman allegedly admitted to striking Masten with the hammer and making him sign the paper against his will during an interview with Dorcan the next day at the Donora police station.

Bowman was charged with aggravated assault, theft by extortion, simple assault and disorderly conduct.

He was arraigned Thursday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Mark Wilson in Monongahela and sent to the Washington County Correctional Facility when he could not post $10,000 bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 23 before Wilson.

Source: triblive