A Tamaqua man was arrested last Friday after he broke into a home and punched a woman in the face.

Tamaqua police were dispatched to a home on Cherry Street at midnight on Oct. 6 after receiving a call about a burglary.They spoke with a female resident of the home who said she was watching television when someone started knocking loudly on the back door.The man was unknown to her so she refused to answer the door.The man then smashed a window in the back door, entered the kitchen and punched the woman in the face.A man who was upstairs in the home heard the commotion and yelling and went downstairs. By this time the intruder was pulling the woman through the door, dragging her by the hair.The second man grabbed a baseball bat to drive off the suspect, landing at least one blow to the suspect's back. The man then fled.The victims described him as wearing shorts and a hoodie, and a back pack. He was accompanied by a dog.Police began a search of the area and found a man matching the description walking in the area of the railroad tracks, to the rear of the Sunoco station.The man was stopped and identified as Phillip Michael Ryan IV, 26, of 402 Hazle St.Ryan said he was just out walking his dog. When another officer arrived with the victim, to make a positive ID, Ryan fled.During the foot chase an officer saw the suspect toss a metal tin into a dumpster. As other officers pursued and set up a perimeter to block Ryan's escape, the chase ended abruptly when two civilians decided to help police. One of them tackled Ryan, stopping him in his tracks.The metal tin was recovered from the dumpster. It contained a red straw and a baggie containing three crystals. The crystals field tested positive for methamphetamine.Ryan was arraigned before duty District Judge Christine Hale, of Frackville, on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $25,000 straight, which Ryan was unable to post. He was lodged in the Schuylkill County prison in Pottsville.Tamaqua police were assisted by Rush Township Sgt. Duane Frederick, Coaldale Patrolman Joseph David and West Penn Officer Denna Krammes.