Towamencin Couple Allegedly Beat Each Other Up, Get Arrested, Police Say

A Towamencin Township couple were arrested and charged with simple assault and other offenses after they allegedly beat each other up in a fight that began in the car on the way home from the bar and ended at their Kulp Road home, police said.
Mark Straka, 33, and Maria Nightingale, 28, of the 2100 block of Kulp Road, were each charged with simple assault and harassment Dec. 7 and later released on $5,000 unsecured bail, police said.
At 2:24 a.m. Dec. 7, police responded to the home for a reported assault. They made contact with Nightingale, who was bleeding heavily from her nose, had a swollen left cheek, and swelling and a cut to her right hand, police said. Nightingale also had blood on her clothing and face, police said.
Nightingale told police she allegedly had a fight with Straka, police said. She had left her apartment and went to a neighbor's home, who called police.
Nightingale was taken to Lansdale Hospital for treatment of her injuries, police said.
Police talked to Straka at the residence, who had lacerations to his right face and redness to his right eye, police said. Blood was on his shirt and on the kitchen floor, police said.
Police said Nightingale and Straka allegedly began arguing in the car en route home from a bar. Nightingale had allegedly slapped and punched Straka while he was driving on Kriebel Road, police said. The fight continued into the home.
Police said Nightingale allegedly started the fight and injured Straka's face.
Straka had an opportunity to remove himself from the apartment and stop any physical assault, police said. The force used to cause the injuries to Nightingale were determined to be excessive for self-defense, police said.
Straka was taken into custody at the home, and Nightingale was taken into custody after she was released from the hospital, police said.