After breaking down his door and entering his Loyalsock Township home in the 300 block of Tinsman Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Anthony James II “he started suffocating the woman until she couldn’t breathe,” was alleged in an affidavit filed by state police, who called the incident a domestic disturbance.
The woman told police that James, 49, of 1320 Pleasant Hills Road, threatened to kill the woman and her family, police said. When a call was made to the state police barracks, a dispatcher could hear a woman screaming, police said. The affidavit did not say whether it was the woman who made the call or someone else at the home.
James fled the home when troopers arrived, but was quickly apprehended and taken into custody. He admitted to being at the house and that he was aware the woman had already filed a protection from abuse order against him, police said.
At his arraignment three hours later before District Judge Denise Dieter on charges of robbery, strangulation, terroristic threats, simple assault, criminal mischief and stalking, James said he was “sorry” what had happened and admitted “I need help.” He told the judge that if he was released, he would hurt himself. Dieter denied James bail and ordered him to the Lycoming County Jail.
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