HENDERSON TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man waived his hearing in court on Thursday on charges from an incident where he allegedly “assaulted and choked” his fiancée and then assaulted and threatened several other individuals in Henderson Township.
Court documents indicate the following charges against 36-year-old Benjamin Matthew Elliott were waived for court on Thursday, December 16:
– Terroristic Threats With Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1 (three counts)
– Strangulation – Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck, Misdemeanor 2
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting, Misdemeanor 3 (four counts)
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary (five counts)
The charges have been transferred to the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas.
Elliott remains free on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.
The charges stem from an incident that took place in early November.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 9:43 p.m. on November 6, Punxsutawney-based State Police were dispatched to a residence on First Street in Henderson Township for a report of a physical altercation between Benjamin Elliott and five known victims.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Elliott in the front yard of the residence with visible injuries around his right eye, according to the complaint.
The complaint indicates the first victim, Elliott’s fiancée, told police that Elliott had been drinking for most of the day and then began arguing with her in front of the residence after she discovered him walking up the street from a local bar.
The victim reported that she stopped her car and was talking to Elliott, who was standing beside the vehicle, when Elliott became upset and kicked the vehicle several times. She told police Elliott was also yelling at her, which drew the attention of her neighbors who came outside as she began trying to exit her vehicle.
According to the complaint, the victim said Elliott became increasingly upset with her and then shoved her as she got out of the car, and her neighbor (the second victim) then attempted to intervene and separate them. The second victim and Elliott subsequently got into a physical altercation, during which Elliott reportedly shoved and made threatening statements to both the second victim and his wife (the third victim), as well as a fourth victim, who had come out to defend the other victims.
The complaint indicates Elliott then continued to shove and choke the first victim before they were separated by the second and third victims. After being separated, Elliott and the first victim both entered their shared residence, where Elliott reportedly continued to yell threats at the victim while throwing items inside the residence.
The first victim told police that when she attempted to check on their daughters, Elliott continued to push and shove her before throwing her onto a bed. She indicated he then pushed his thumb into her eye and pressed on her throat with his hands, choking her. She told police she was finally able to free herself by pushing and kicking Elliott off of her and going downstairs.
The victim reported that Elliott followed her downstairs and continued to pull her hair and choke her. She told police she attempted to get Elliott to leave the residence, but he refused and continued to push and shove her while yelling at her. She indicated she was able to push Elliott away from her just long enough to gather her daughters and flee the residence, seeking shelter at the neighbors’ (the second and third victims’) residence where she contacted police.
Elliott was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana at 9:27 a.m. on November 7.
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Police: Local Man Assaults, Chokes Fiancée; Threatens to Kill Multiple People
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