JOHNSONBURG — A Ridgway man has been charged with allegedly choking a woman, and then punching her in the head and neck repeatedly.
Thomas Michael Derydt, 46, was charged by the Ridgway Borough police with one count each of assault, aggravated assault, harassment and strangulation
According to the police criminal complaint, at about 8:09 p.m. on March 30, a victim went to the Ridgway Borough police station and told police that between 2 and 3 p.m. March 28 at a RIdgway apartment, Derydt punched the right side of her face with a closed fist, injuring her eye. The complaint said he then proceeded to strangle her, which also caused bruising. Derydt then punched her in the back of the neck/head several times causing her to lose consciousness and possibly have a seizure, the complaint alleged. There was also bruising/contusions to her head and neck. The victim went to the emergency room at Penn Highlands Elk in St. Marys for treatment.
Bail was set at $50,000, monetary straight. He was placed in the Elk County Jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 12 at District Judge James Martin’s office in Johnsonburg.
