Latrobe Bulletin/1975/Entire Family Goes On Trial In Riot Case

Entire Family Goes On Trial In Riot Case

Media, Pennsylvania (UPI) A family of six went on trial in Delaware County Court Monday on charges stemming from an alleged attack on state troopers who had responded to their home to quell a disturbance. The six, Richard Hammelbacher, 52, his wife and their four sons, Richard Jr., 23, John, 21, Steven, 20, and Alex, charged with disorderly. conduct, riot, assault, conspiracy and other charges as a result of an incident in September, 1973 at their Middletown Township home. State trooper Randolph Martin testified he and other officers were hit with stones when they arrived at the Hammelbacher home to stop a family quarrel. Martin said officers had tried to break up a fight among four of the Hammelbachers on the front porch, but were struck and hit with rocks. The witness said he was struck by a rock that broke two bones and knocked him to the ground. Another witness testified that other officers eventually handcuffed the family members and ended the fight. The Hammelbachers maintain that State Police precipitated the incident by beating members of the family who were trying to break up the family fight. Martin acknowledged that officers did hit two family members with a blackjack and a flashlight.