Fired Body Shop Employee Loses Temper, Arrested

Bethlehem police say an Emmaus man lost his temper after losing his job, and wound up losing his freedom in the process.

According to court records, Kenneth Pavlick, 45, of 1133 Little Lehigh Drive, was fired Tuesday from the Act 1 Auto Collission Center at 937 Stefko Boulevard.

Police said Pavlick asked for his final check up front, and when owner Jason Torres refused, Pavlick threatened to damage a customer's pick-up truck with a piece of equipment -- a dent puller.

"You have to do what you have to do," Torres responded, according to court records, and Pavlick hit the truck three times.

As Pavlick left the property, police say he backed into another customer's car. When Torres came out to get a photo of Pavlick's license plate, Pavlick allegedly tried to back into his former boss.

Torres got out of the way, police said, and Pavlick hit another car, which in turn ran into a second man's hand. That man, identified as Jonathan Rivera, complained of pain in his hand, but did not seek medical attention.

Police say Torres showed them surveillance footage of the incident. Pavlick was arrested and arraigned before on-duty District Judge Daniel Corpora in Easton, and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. He is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.