A 34-year-old man put his girlfriend in a chokehold and then threatened to stab her with a box cutter on Thursday, Scranton police said.
Jermaine Davian Wiggan, of Washington County, is charged with strangulation, making terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.
According to the criminal complaint, at about 10:35 p.m., officers responded to an Edwards Court residence for the report of an assault.
When officers arrived, they could hear someone yelling “stop” from the second floor of the building.
They found Brandy Valdez in an upstairs bedroom. She said Wiggan, who had been staying with her for about two weeks, woke her up, punched her in the face, dragged her through the house and then, from behind, placed her in a choke hold.
She told investigators Wiggan then brandished a box cutter and threatened to stab her.
Valdez said the argument had started because Wiggan believed she had cheated on him.
Officers noted Valdez had multiple bruises and cuts on her face, neck, chest, arms, hands and knees.
The found a “large amount of long black hair” at the top of the steps.
Wiggan claimed the altercation began when he accidentally bumped into the victim while trying to lie down, causing her to “freak out.”
Officers noted he had no visible marks or injuries.
Wiggan remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 30 before District Judge Sean McGraw.