A Schuylkill County man allegedly kicked in the front door of a home and choked a woman until she nearly passed out during an altercation last weekend.
Jahsiah McLendon Underwood, 26, of Frackville, was arrested by Frackville police following an Aug. 22 incident at a residence on the 300 block of S. Line St.
According to police, officers were dispatched to the home at about 9:30 a.m. for a report of a disturbance. Police allege McLendon Underwood arrived home and kicked the front door in to gain access. Once inside, he began arguing with another man about being in the residence with McLendon Underwood’s girlfriend.
The victim told police that McLendon Underwood retrieved a kitchen knife during the dispute. She ran to an upstairs bedroom to hide, but McLendon Underwood followed her, threatened her with the knife, and pushed her onto the bed, according to police. The victim told police that McLendon Underwood straddled her chest with his legs and used both hands to grab her neck, causing her to lose vision, struggle to breathe, and feel as though she was going to pass out.
Police say McLendon Underwood fled on foot before officers arrived.
McLendon Underwood later returned to the residence and was detained by police. He reportedly said he was only involved in a fight with the other man. He denied strangling the victim and told police her injuries may have occurred while she was trying to separate the two men.
McLendon Underwood is charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault, second-degree felony strangulation, misdemeanor simple assault, and summary harassment.
He was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison after failing to post $25,000 bail set by Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.
Schuylkill County Crisis & Support Resources
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence, free, confidential, and inclusive help is available 24/7 in Schuylkill County.
- Schuylkill Hope Center (Domestic Violence): Call the 24/7 hotline at (570) 622-6220, text HOPELINE to 20121, or visit schopecenter.org. Services include emergency shelter, housing assistance, counseling, and legal representation.
- SARCC (Sexual Assault): Call the 24/7 hotline at (570) 628-2965 or visit sarccheals.org for counseling, advocacy, and healing support for survivors of sexual violence.
- Outside Schuylkill County: Residents across Pennsylvania can find their local domestic violence program at pcadv.org. You can also visit domesticshelters.org to find resources near you.
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