THOMASTON, Maine — A Rockland man is in jail after police said he attempted to strangle a woman to the point that she lost consciousness.
Jonathan D. Cougle, 19, was arrested Friday night at an apartment on Pine Street in Thomaston and charged with Class B aggravated assault and Class D domestic violence assault. The woman was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport to be treated for her injuries.
Judge Susan Sparaco set bail Monday at $10,000 cash for Cougle during his first appearance in court. The felony aggravated assault charge carries a potential sentence of 10 years in prison.
A person who was in the parking lot of an apartment complex and heard the attack contacted police, according to an affidavit filed in Knox County Unified Court in Rockland by Thomaston police Officer Olaf Siguad.
When he arrived, Siguad said he heard a voice of someone who sounded in distress and followed it to an apartment. Firefighter Tony Leo backed up the officer.
The woman told police Cougle had put his hands around her and tried to strangle her, according to the affidavit. She later told police this was the 10th time he had done this to her in the past year. She also reported that he had cut her arm with electric clippers the day before, Siguad wrote.
The officer indicated he noticed red marks on the woman’s neck and a scar on her arm.
A witness outside said she heard a woman screaming and begging the person to stop hurting her and that she loved him. The witness heard the man screaming at the woman to shut up.