ROCKLAND, Maine — A Thomaston man was arrested Sunday accused of strangling a woman during a domestic assault.
Samuel N. Atwood, 58, of Thomaston, was arrested by Rockland police and charged with felony domestic violence aggravated assault, and a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence criminal threatening.
He was taken to the Knox County holding facility in Rockland and then had an initial appearance Oct. 19 via Zoom with the state court in Knox County where Judge Sarah Gilbert set bail at $750 cash. Assistant District Attorney Mari Wells had requested that amount while defense attorney of the day James Gioia had asked for personal recognizance bail.
An affidavit filed with the court by Rockland police states that the department responded to a reported domestic dispute on Chestnut Street. The woman said Atwood pushed her down on a bed, put one of his hands around her neck and the other over her mouth and nose. She struck her head on the bottom of the window sill when she was forced down, according to the affidavit.
The woman said while she was struggling to breathe, he told her he was going to kill her.
A witness reported hearing their arguments but this time it was more intense and the witness heard the woman saying “Sam no, Sam don’t, and Sam stop.” The witness said he also heard a loud thud shortly before police were called to the scene.
Atwood denied the dispute was ever physical.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.