A 29-year-old woman was sent to the hospital after an argument turned physical while she and a man were walking down Centerville Road in James City County, police said.
Evan Anthony Cole, 26, is charged with assault and battery third offense and aggravated assault by strangulation after he allegedly hit and strangled a woman he knew, James City County Police spokeswoman Stephanie Williams said.
On Feb. 8, officers responded to a report of an assault. The woman told police she was walking down Centerville Road with Cole when they began arguing, Williams said. The two are acquainted with each other.
The argument escalated into a physical fight when Cole hit the victim in the face, she said.
When the woman attempted to push Cole away, he grabbed her around the throat and began to choke her, Williams said.
At some point during the altercation, one of the woman’s relatives was driving by and was able to pick her up, according to police.
The woman was then transported by medics to a hospital, Williams said. It is unclear which hospital she was taken to.
Police were unable to locate Cole on the day of the incident, but Williamsburg Police located him Feb. 17 and arrested him on James City County warrants for assault and aggravated assault by strangulation, both of which are felonies, Williams said.
At 4 p.m. Monday morning, no court hearing had been scheduled for Cole in the Williamsburg-James City County General District Court, according to online court records.
General district and circuit court records show Cole has previously been convicted of assault and battery of a family member and forcing a person to remain in a criminal gang.
