PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Multiple charges have been filed against a Punxsutawney man who is accused of slapping a woman, holding her down, and choking her with his arm during a domestic incident earlier this month.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 49-year-old Curtis Lee Watson.
According to a criminal complaint, around 8:45 p.m. on January 3, Punxsutawney Borough Police received a call from Jefferson County 9-1-1 reporting a domestic incident at a residence on Union Street with a female victim who had locked herself in a bathroom and reported she had been struck in the face and may have a broken jaw.
The complaint indicates police knocked on the door of the apartment, and when a man opened the door, he was told to back up and get on the ground. The man reportedly began to comply, but then the female victim came out of a bathroom yelling for police to arrest the man, and the man began to get back up.
According to the complaint, police told the man that if he didn’t get on the floor with his hands behind his back, he would be tasered. The man began to argue, saying he had done nothing wrong. He was told again to get on the ground and then complied and was handcuffed.
When police spoke to the victim, the victim reportedly stated the man, identified as Curtis Watson, had been drinking that evening. She told police that she had told Watson she could not have him to her home anymore, and he reportedly responded by telling her he hoped she and her unborn child both die, the complaint indicates.
The victim indicated Watson then began yelling at her, and as she went to walk around, he slapped her in the face with an open hand at least twice. She told police Watson then got her on a bed and laid on top of her, holding her down with his forearm/elbow across her throat and chest. The victim indicated she could not breathe while he was doing this. She said that she was able to get away from him and then ran to the bathroom, locked herself in, and called 9-1-1. She also indicated her left ear hurt and was ringing, according to the complaint.
Police observed the victim’s left cheek was puffy and slightly red, and she complained of neck and back pain, the complaint notes.
Watson was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 9:10 a.m. on January 4, on the following charges:
– Unlawful Restraint/Serious Bodily Injury, Misdemeanor 1
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– Strangulation – Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck, Misdemeanor 2
He remains free on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on February 1 with Judge Mizerock presiding.
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