A Bradford man was arraigned Thursday on allegations that he slapped and choked a female victim until she could not breathe.
Ronald J. Cunningham Jr., 25, is charged with strangulation — applying pressure to the throat or neck, a second-degree felony; terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, a first degree misdemeanor; and simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Cunningham messaged the female victim to meet him at her house so he could get his personal belongings and that he had already contacted the police to meet him there. When she left her place of employment, she contacted her uncle to meet her at her house as well.
According to reports, after arriving at her home, a verbal argument broke out between Cunningham and the victim and Cunningham pushed himself into the house. After telling Cunningham she was going to call police, Cunningham allegedly slapped the victim several times in the face with an open hand, took her phone and began to choke her by the neck to the point she could not breathe.
The victim’s uncle heard the fighting and came inside the house to see Cunningham choking the victim, reports read. After getting Cunningham off the victim, he told him he needed to leave. Cunningham then allegedly threatened to shoot both the victim and any of her family. The victim reported having seen a black 9mm pistol in Cunningham’s possession.
The female came into the Bradford City Police Department, where an officer observed and photographed a bruise to the left side of her neck and bruises to the left inner upper arm. The victim filled out a written statement and indicated she is scared of Cunningham and has seen him with a black pistol previously, reports state. Afterwards, she went to Bradford Regional Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.
Cunningham was arraigned before District Judge Richard Luther and remanded to McKean County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing before District Judge Dominic Cercone Jr. is set for Sept. 8.
