A Schuylkill County man is accused of strangling a woman with a television cord during an argument Thursday night.
Dakota Whitman, 31, of Minersville, faces charges of aggravated assault, two counts of strangulation, terroristic threats, simple assault, and harassment. He is in Schuylkill County Prison on $150,000 bail after being arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker.
Minersville Police were called to a home in the borough shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday for a report of a strangulation involving a TV cord. When an officer arrived a few minutes later, he found the woman outside the home, crying. She told police Whitman had strangled her with a TV cord.
Inside, the woman handed the officer the cable she said was used. Police say they saw redness around the right, upper part of her neck.
The woman told police she got home later than usual that evening, and Whitman asked where she had been. After she told him, Whitman left and later came back.
A verbal argument followed. The woman said Whitman pushed her several times and then punched her in the stomach three times in a row. As she tried to defend herself, she said, Whitman ran to the bedroom door, blocked it and kept pushing her, at one point pushing her through a reclining chair.
Whitman then grabbed a cord from the TV and wrapped it around her neck, restricting her airflow. She was eventually able to get the cord off, but Whitman then wrapped his hands around her neck and applied pressure, police say. She said she pleaded with him several times to stop and let go.
A witness inside the home played the officer a voice recording in which Whitman said he would strangle her again, police say. That witness also saw Whitman shove the woman, according to police.
Police later spoke with a person who was on the phone with the woman after the assault. That person told police they heard someone else in the home tell Whitman to leave the woman alone, and that Whitman replied, “I will beat the living s*** out of you, get out of my way. I came back to finish her off nobody is going to get in my way.”
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.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...