A Treichlers man has been charged with holding a pistol to a man’s neck after a dispute over child support.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Sgt. Philip Mirabile of the Lehigh Township Police Department:

At 4:30 p.m. March 28, a man arrived at the Lehigh Township Police Department to report that he was assaulted by Joseph Berrocal, 44, in the 300 block of Pepper Drive in Walnutport.

The man said he lent Berrocal $1,200 several years ago so Berrocal could pay child support, and that Berrocal has collected between $400 to $500 since then.

He said that Berrocal agreed to pay him in December, however, Berrocal hasn’t answered his phone calls.

The man said he went to Berrocal’s house and said as soon as he entered the home, Berrocal slammed him against a wall with his left arm and placed a small pistol to the right side of his neck, just under his jaw line.

Police said the victim had a mark on his neck, consistent with what could be caused by the muzzle of a pistol.

Berrocal faces charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, possessing instruments of crime, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and harassment.

Berrocal is in the Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 monetary bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing April 25 before District Judge Robert A. Hawke of Walnutport.