Hartford Man Accused Of Assaulting Woman, Holding Her Hostage: Police

HARTFORD/WINDHAM, CT — A Hartford man is being held for his role in several assaults against a woman, who reported she was held against her will, in her Willimantic apartment Tuesday.

According to Connecticut State Police, Anthony Waterman, 23, of Hartford, was charged with interfering with a police officer/resisting arrest; first-degree breach of peace; disorderly conduct; criminal possession of a firearm; second-degree assault; first-degree threatening with a firearm; second-degree reckless endangerment; second-degree strangulation/suffocation; and first-degree unlawful restraint.

Waterman was held on a $750,000 bond for these charges, as well an additional $110,000 of combined bonds on failure to appear in court charges linked to prior criminal cases.

Police said Waterman was scheduled to appear at Danielson Superior Court on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Wednesday morning, state police released several details associated with the case.

Police said, at about 1:53 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 29), state police at Troop K in Colchester were dispatched to the Willimantic Police Department (Windham) to investigate a "non-active physical assault."

"Given the incident occurred at a residence in Windham, Willimantic PD contacted Troop K to assume the investigation," wrote state police.

Windham is under state police jurisdiction, while the WPD covers the Willimantic section of Windham.

According to state police, the investigating trooper made contact with a female victim at the Willimantic Police Department.

Police said the victim reported she had been held against her will inside of her apartment by Waterman.

The victim said Waterman had been staying with her for approximately two weeks, and she eventually began to feel she was in danger, police said.

Upon attempting to leave her apartment in the early morning hours of Monday, Oct. 29, Waterman physically barred her from doing so, police said.

According to police, the victim reported to troopers that Waterman pushed her backward with both hands, causing her to fall back.

The victim explained Waterman then grabbed her by the neck and squeezed, obstructing her breathing, police said.

According to state police, the victim further explained Waterman picked her up from the floor by the neck and pushed her into a wall before releasing his grip.

Following this, the victim reported Waterman took a metal pipe from a broken towel rack and began to strike her with it, police said.

The victim reported bruising to her lower extremities as a result of this assault, according to police.

A female police officer from the Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic assisted troopers with this investigation and obtained photographs of the victim's injuries.

The victim reported that, once Waterman had stopped striking her, he had told her that he did not want her to leave the apartment, police said.

The victim was eventually able to leave the residence after 10 a.m. Tuesday to attend a meeting, after which she arrived at the police department with friends, police said.

Police said the victim reported Waterman had not left her residence during this two-week stay, as he knew he had active warrants for his arrest and police were looking for him.

The victim also reported Waterman had firearms, according to police.

Police said the victim reported another incident in which Waterman had tied her up, placed a sock in her mouth, and placed a firearm to her head following a verbal argument.

According to police, the victim reported an additional firearms-related assault in which Waterman struck her with the firearm, otherwise referred to as "pistol whipping."

Troopers confirmed Waterman did have two active felony arrest warrants for failure to appear in court.

The original charges included robbery with a firearm, violation of probation, interfering with police, and possession of a controlled substance, police said.

While the investigating trooper was obtaining a sworn statement from the victim, Waterman sent a Facetime video to one of her friends, police said.

According to police, the video showed Waterman had piled clothing in the center of a room within the apartment and commenced to pour lighter fluid over the pile.

Police said Waterman could be heard threatening the victim with setting fire to her belongings if she did not call him immediately.

"Given the exigent circumstances of a potential arson incident within the apartment building, troopers began to evacuate residents from the building as a safety precaution," wrote state police.

As troopers were evacuating the building, Waterman exited from the rear of the building, police said.

One of the troopers on the scene immediately recognized him as the suspect and Waterman took off running in an attempt to avoid capture, police said.

A state police K-9 on the scene was released and subsequently apprehended Waterman.

Waterman was taken into custody without further incident and transported to an area hospital for treatment of the K-9 bite injury.

A search of the area, including Waterman's path of travel, was conducted.

As a result, police said a loaded firearm was located in bushes just before where Waterman was apprehended by the K-9.

This firearm matched the description provided by the victim and it was seized as evidence in this investigation, police said.

Upon discharge from the hospital, Waterman was transported to Troop K where he was processed.

For the Connecticut State Police news page, click on this link.