PERRY TWP., Pa. (EYT) – Charges have been filed against a Punxsutawney man accused of choking a woman and punching a man during an incident in Perry Township.
Court documents indicate 38-year-old Erik Eugene Kauffman, of Punxsutawney, was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Gregory M Bazylak at 8:20 a.m. on May 2, on the following charges:
– Strangulation – Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck, Felony 2
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
Unable to post $30,000.00 (10%) monetary bail, he was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
He was released on May 3, on a $3,000.00 private surety.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Perry Township earlier this month.
According to a criminal complaint, around 10:35 p.m. on May 1, Punxsutawney-based State Police were dispatched to a residence on Hamilton Markton Road in Perry Township for a report of an active domestic incident.
Police then interviewed Erik Eugene Kauffman who reported that he had gotten into an argument with a known woman and then pushed her with both hands.
According to the complaint, when police interviewed the female victim, she stated she and Kauffman were in an argument over him trying to drive, and when she reached in to grab his keys, he pushed her out of the vehicle.
The victim reportedly told police when she reached for the keys a second time, Kauffman grabbed her by the hair with one hand and by the throat with his other hand and then began choking her until she couldn’t breathe. She reported others at the residence then ran over and “broke everything up.”
The complaint notes police observed a red mark on the left side of the victim’s throat.
According to the complaint, a second victim reported that Kauffman was “really drunk” and had been threatening leave, and the female victim was trying to stop him from driving. He noted that Kauffman had gone to his vehicle and had started it three times, and after the last time he heard the vehicle shut off, he then heard the Kauffman screaming and swearing at the victim.
The second victim told police he then heard a car door and also heard a choking sound. Then he heard the victim yell, “I can’t believe you’re doing that to me,” and ran to break things up. He reported that he tried to pull Kauffman away from the victim, and Kauffman turned and punched him in the right eye. He told police he then put Kauffman on the ground and held him down.
The complaint notes the second victim also told police that Kauffman was threatening to kill him while he was holding Kauffman down, but also reportedly said he didn’t want Kauffman charged for hitting or threatening him.
Police also interviewed two witnesses at the scene.
According to the complaint, both witnesses only saw the second victim holding Kauffman on the ground.
A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.
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