Suspect Accused Of Assault, Strangulation: Westport Police

WESTPORT, CT — A 28-year-old Norwalk man was arrested on assault, strangulation and unlawful restraint charges last week, after Westport police said he attacked his girlfriend over text messages he said he found on her phone.

The incident occurred on Friday on Saugatuck Avenue, when a Westport police officer saw a vehicle traveling toward Interstate 95 "without any headlights and the front bumper dragging on the ground," according to Lt. Eric Woods.

The officer pulled the vehicle over and began speaking with the suspect, who was driving the vehicle and had scratches on his face and fresh blood on his clothing.

"In the passenger seat was a female who was later identified as being in a dating relationship with [the suspect]," Woods said. "The female had significant injuries to her face and head. The investigation revealed that [the suspect] had gone through the victim’s phone and found text messages that he felt were suspicious. After finding these text messages and while they were driving, he assaulted her and refused to let her get out of the car."

The suspect was taken into custody and was charged with the following:

• Second-degree assault — serious injury
• Second-degree strangulation/suffocation
• Second-degree unlawful restraint

He is being held in lieu of bail of $250,000, and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on April 2.