Man arrested for allegedly shoving woman into shelf and trying to force her down basement steps

A man was arrested for injuring a woman he shoved into a shelf while trying to push her down the basement steps, officials said.

Gary L. Gyurkovics began shoving Michelle Salmon in the pantry area of their home at 137 Mauch Chunk Road, Nazareth, Northampton Co., while she was trying to prepare lunch at about 11:20 a.m. Saturday, officials said, adding that when Salmon resisted, Gyurkovics tried to force her down the basement steps.

Salmon said she hurt her back when she hit the shelf by Gyurkovics, officials said.

Gyurkovics denied shoving or pushing Salmon with his hands and claimed he used a door to maneuver Salmon toward the basement to help him look for some personal belongings, officials said.

Gyurkovics, 49, was arraigned on assault and harassment charges and released on $10,000 unsecured bail, according to court documents.

A preliminary hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 18.