NORTHAMPTON — A Southampton man is being placed on electronic monitoring after allegedly choking a woman.
Nuno Afonso, 35, pleaded not guilty in Northampton District Court Monday to charges of assault and battery on a family or household member, strangulation and intimidating a witness.
Southampton Police were called just after 7:05 a.m. Sunday to an apartment on College Highway for a report of a domestic assault in progress, according to a report from Officer Jeremy LaRochelle.
When officers arrived on scene they found a woman sitting inside her car in the parking lot. Police said Afonso was standing on the curb. The woman, who LaRochelle said was visibly shaken, had a red mark on her neck.
The Gazette does not generally identify alleged victims of domestic assault.
The woman told officers the two had gotten into an argument and Afonso became angry and was yelling and screaming at her, LaRochelle wrote. During the argument, Afonso allegedly spit in the woman’s face, pushed her as she was attempting to walk away and put both hands around her throat making it difficult for her to breath, according to court documents.
When interviewed by police, Afonso denied that the argument was ever physical.
Afonso was held following his arraignment until a GPS monitor became available. He was expected to be placed on electronic monitoring Tuesday.
His conditions of release include that he maintain employment, stay away from and out of Southampton and that he live with his parents. He is also not allowed to posses a firearm.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.