JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) — A local man is facing charges after he allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and slammed her against a door during a domestic incident in Worthville Borough, Jefferson County.
Court documents indicate that the Punxsutawney-based State police filed criminal charges against 32-year-old Ryan James Murphy, of Lucinda.
According to a criminal complaint, around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, Trooper Steele was dispatched to a residence on Ringgold Street in Worthville Borough for a report of a physical domestic incident.
Trooper Steele arrived at the scene around 8:46 p.m. and interviewed Ryan James Murphy.
According to the complaint, Murphy stated that he and a known female were involved in a verbal argument, and he held her up against the door with his arm.
As Trooper Steele interviewed Murphy, Corporal Brothers interviewed the known female victim.
The victim reported that she was sitting on a couch in the living room of the residence when Murphy came in and grabbed her cellular phone from her, opened the door, and threw the phone across the road. She stated that Murphy didn’t even speak before grabbing her by the throat, picking her up, and slamming her against the inside of the front door of the residence, according to the complaint.
The victim said that while Murphy was holding her by the throat, she had difficulty breathing and nearly passed out, the complaint indicates.
After Trooper Steele consulted with Corporal Brothers about the victim’s account of the incident, he asked Murphy again what happened.
According to the complaint, when asked for his account a second time, Murphy said that he was upset with the victim “disrespecting him” and took her cell phone and threw it across the road. Murphy also said that “he put his hands around the victim’s neck in a choking manner,” according to the complaint.
When Murphy was asked if he thought his actions made it difficult for the victim to breathe, he said the victim was “gasping for air,” the complaint states.
Murphy was arraigned at 8:42 a.m. on Sunday, July 22, in Magisterial District Judge Gregory M Bazylak’s office on the following charges:
- Strangulation — Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck, Felony 2
- Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
- Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
He was released on $20,000.00 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 2, with Judge Mizerock presiding.
