BRADFORD, Pa. — A Salamanca, N.Y., man was arraigned Tuesday on allegations of assaulting a woman at a Clarence Street residence in December.
Dillon L. Pennell, 33, of 163 River St., is charged with two counts of strangulation, second-degree felonies; simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and false imprisonment, all second-degree misdemeanors.
According to the criminal complaint, a female victim went to the Bradford City Police on Jan. 28 to report an assault that took place on Dec. 18 in which Pennell assaulted and choked her.
She told police she had gone into her bedroom and locked the door due to his behavior, the complaint stated. He broke open the door, causing the latch strike plate to separate from the door. He threw the strike plate at her, then got on top of her and choked her with his hands. He pinned her to the floor and put his knee on her neck. She was able to get out from under him, but he threw her against the wall and choked her with his forearm until the dog came in and bit him.
The victim ran for the stairs, but Pennell caught her and attempted to choke her from behind. She was able to drop down and slid down the stairs, the complaint stated. He pursued her down the stairs, caught her at the front door and prevented her from leaving while holding his arm against her throat.
The dog attacked him again, and the victim grabbed her keys and ran outside. He caught her again at the fence, throwing her to the ground, with her head striking the concrete pad near the fence. She screamed for help, and Pennell started choking her again until the dog ran to her rescue. The victim climbed over the fence and ran to her car, with only her keys and partially dressed. The dog followed her to the car, the complaint stated.
The victim drove to her parents’ house. The parents spoke to police to describe what the victim said when she arrived after the assault and her physical condition. The victim told police that Pennell moved out of the house, and warned her not to talk to police or “she will pay,” the complaint stated.
Pennell was arraigned Tuesday and released after posting $40,000 percentage bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 9.
