Masontown man charged in assault on wife
An arrest warrant was issued for a Masontown man who allegedly choked his wife with a belt after she told him she wanted a divorce Saturday night.
Patrick S. Dowdell, 61, of 108 Poplar St. is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault and strangulation for the alleged attack on Crystal Dowdell at about 7:40 p.m.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case, Dowdell took a belt from his waistband and put it around his wife’s neck and squeezed, saying he would kill her along with “anyone else he had to.” She told police the belt was so tight she couldn’t breathe. She kneed him to get away from him and attempted to calm him by saying she would not leave him. Eventually she talked him into getting in the bathtub and relaxing. She fled her home and called 911 after she heard him get in the bathtub.
Charges were filed Saturday by Masontown Police Department before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. Shimshock.