A Salisbury Township man charged with using a Taser to randomly assault a woman in her home will have his case proceed to county court after waiving his preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Benjamin Andrew Brinker, of the 700 block of Azalea Lane, waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Raymond Sheller on Sept. 3 on charges of burglary, aggravated assault and use of an incapacitation device – all felony offenses.

Brinker, 34, is accused of brandishing a Taser and pushing himself through the partially opened door of the victim’s residence in the 200 block of South Belmont Road in Paradise Township where he proceeded to fire the weapon and assault her the afternoon of Aug. 19.

One of the Taser’s projectiles struck the victim in the chest near her heart, causing her to stumble and fall, she told police. Brinker, who was a stranger to the victim, then proceeded to punch her in the face while she was on the ground before he fled.

The victim’s husband last saw Brinker fleeing on foot northbound along South Belmont Road shortly before 4 p.m.

Investigators used information from the Taser projectiles to trace its manufacturer, who used serial numbers found on a cartridge cover left behind at the scene to identify Brinker as the weapon’s purchaser. The manufacturer also told investigators that Brinker had purchased additional cartridges just three days before the attack.

Surveillance footage from the area mere minutes before the attack captured video of Brinker, only about 1,250 feet from the victim’s residence, walking away from his vehicle.

Brinker remains in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $1.5 million bail after the District Attorney’s office moved for it to be increased.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Nicholas Reginella filed the charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.