SouthSide Man Arrested in Center Street Assault

A Bethlehem man was jailed on assault charges Monday after police say his victim picked him out of a photo array.

Abdiel Ruiz, 19, of 711 Cherokee St., was one of two men accused in taking part in the attack on April 1.

According to court records, the investigation began that night when city police responded to the home of Kevin Martin at 535 Center St. Martin said he had been attacked by two men after getting a call from a woman and hearing someone say in the background "I'm going to f--- him up."

Soon after the call ended, two men broke into Martin's home and challenged him to fight. One of them -- who police identified as Azim Brown -- punched Martin in the face. Police say Ruiz threatened Martin with a pocket knife, which he also used to slash one of Martin's tires.

Martin later identified his attackers using a photo-array, police said. Ruiz was arrested, and charged with simple assault, harassment, terroristic threats and criminal mischief. He was arraigned before on-duty District Judge Richard Yetter in Wilson, and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.