A Hilltown Township man is facing felony kidnapping, rape and sexual assault charges following a 11-hour standoff that ended Thursday morning.
According to reports, Hilltown Township Police were dispatched to a home along the 2000 block of Hilltown Pike shortly before 8 p.m. on Jan. 1 for a report of a sexual assault. Upon arrival, the victim—identified as a 35-year-old female—told police that 48-year-old Curtis Fish held her against her will in a nearby home, where Fish allegedly beat and raped her until she escaped to a neighboring home through a window.
Police then attempted to speak with Fish, but he allegedly barricaded himself in his home and a 11-hour standoff ensued.
According to a report by 6ABC, after the standoff had been ongoing for eight hours, police attempted to use tear gas to get Fish to exit his residence, but were unsuccessful. Then, as the standoff entered the 11th hour, tactical team members broke through the front door and took Fish into custody, according to the 6ABC report.
Police told 6ABC that Fish did not put up a fight, but investigators believed he was high on drugs during the standoff, according to the report.
A report by CBS3 states that the victim told investigators that this was the second time Fish had assaulted her, and she sustained bruising and swelling to her face, as well as bite marks around her fingers and bruises to both thighs as a result of the incident. The victim was then taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment, and her current condition is unknown, according to the report.
As a result of the incident and standoff, Fish has been charged with felony counts of kidnapping to inflict injury and terror, rape, aggravated assault, sexual assault and strangulation, along with misdemeanor counts of unlawful restraint, indecent assault, false imprisonment, simple assault and a summary charge of harassment.
Fish was arraigned Thursday morning by Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage, who set bail at $850,000 cash. He was then remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail, and his next court appearance is a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Armitage scheduled for Feb. 4 at 2:15 p.m.
(Editor’s note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause, and reflects the point of view of the police. Should the defendant choose to issue a public statement, or is later found not guilty or has the charges dropped, we will update this article accordingly.)
See also:
Hilltown Standoff Ends With One Suspect In Custody
Hilltown Police Searching For Missing 22-Year-Old Woman (UPDATE: Found)
Reward Offered In Hopes Of Identifying Driver Who Killed Dog In Hilltown Township
Police Seek Suspect After Dog Killed In Hit-And-Run Last Week
Felony Lane Gang Members Arrested In Towamencin Following Incident At Citizens Bank: Police
