Two couples face multiple charges after they got into a fight in Nesquehoning.

Howard B. McLaughlin, 41; Marta McLaughlin, 40; and Carrie Fox, 35, all of Nesquehoning; and Bret Bachert, 35, of New Ringgold, were charged by Nesquehoning police earlier this month.

Howard McLaughlin was charged with simple assault, harassment, three counts persistent disorderly conduct and failure to disperse upon officer order; Marta McLaughlin was charged with four counts persistent disorderly conduct and failure to disperse upon officer order; and Fox and Bachert were charged with simple assault, harassment, four counts persistent disorderly conduct and failure to disperse upon officer order.

According to an affidavit filed by Nesquehoning police Chief Sean Smith, at approximately 5:13 p.m. on June 28, Smith was dispatched to a home on Laurel Street for a domestic incident.

Upon arrival, he spoke with Marta McLaughlin, who allegedly got into an argument with her husband, Howard, who had left the house and went for a walk in the woods.

A few minutes later, Smith was again dispatched to the home after Howard returned.

When Smith arrived at the scene, he found numerous neighbors and children outside, two females yelling at each other, a man holding Howard in a chokehold on the ground and Howard punching the man in the face multiple times.

After police separated the men and handcuffed Howard, who resisted and was screaming, officers identified the people at the scene as Marta McLaughlin; Fox, who is her sister; and Bachert, who is Fox’s husband. Marta McLaughlin and Fox continued to scream at each other.

According to the affidavit, Bachert and Fox went to the McLaughlins’ home after being called by Marta’s ex-husband, who said he was concerned for his children’s safety because the couple was fighting.

The McLaughlins said that they had ordered Fox off the property and she refused, while Bachert approached Howard and attacked him. Fox also allegedly slapped Howard across the face.

The four face preliminary hearings before District Judge Casimir Kosciolek on Sept. 5.