Police: Unlawful Restraint of Eagleville Resident

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Lower Providence Police detective division initiated an investigation involving the alleged unlawful restraint of a female residing at the 800 block of Mourning Dove Road in Eagleville.

The investigation began Aug. 20 with police interviewing several neighbors concerning the activities of the female resident. According to the affidavit, the investigation started when a neighbor received a phone call from the female’s mother, who said her daughter was being terrorized and being held against her will at the house.

According to the neighbors, the mother said her daughter was afraid of contacting police, as her husband may kill her and anyone else who came to the house. Neighbors also said that she heard screaming and a male living at the house threatening her with violence. According to all neighbors interviewed, none have ever seen the female who lives at the house.

Lower Providence Police also interviewed the mother, who said that her husband had been abusing her mentally and physically.

Police arrived at the house in the early evening. The female did not directly respond to knocking by police, instead she called 9-1-1 saying she was “OK.” A Lower Providence Police detective did make contact with the female via a phone conversation, during which she told the detective that she had not been outside her home for over one year. 

Later Police entered the home, and saw the female to be obviously malnourished and weak. She told police that her husband was emotionally, verbally and physically abusive to her, and showed signs of physical abuse. She said that such abuse had occurred for the last ten years, but was afraid to go to authorities.

Police found that the room she occupied was devoid of furniture, except a small television. There were also indications of strong unsanitary living conditions.

While police were conducting the investigation, the husband, identified as Christopher Flad, 42, was seen driving in a blue Jeep toward his home. But instead of stopping, he passed by the house.  

Later police interviewed Flad, who said he acted as his wife’s sole care giver.

According to the affidavit, when asked if Flad had ever hit or struck his wife, he replied, “No, I don’t think so.”

Police found that the female was living in conditions, “not fit for human” and was extremely afraid of her husband, due to the ongoing patterns of abuse.

Flad was charged with Terroristic Threats with the Intention to Terrorize Another, Stalking, Unlawful Restraint/Involuntary Servitude, False Imprisonment, Recklessly Endangering Another Person and other related charges.