By Noah Crenshaw | Daily Journal
Prosecutors charged a Greenwood man who is accused of assaulting and choking a woman during a domestic dispute last weekend.
William Woodford, 30, is charged with strangulation, a Level 6 felony, and domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted on both charges, Woodford could serve up to three-and-a-half years in jail.
Greenwood Police arrested Woodford on Saturday after three separate callers reported the disturbance and a woman screaming for help at an apartment in the 700 block of Wooddale Terrace, according to a probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday in Johnson County Superior Court 2.
When officers spoke to Woodford, he was visibly upset, and he told police he had a verbal argument with the victim and she had assaulted him, the affidavit said. During the altercation, Woodford pushed away the victim and bit her because she hit him, according to court documents.
The victim went into the kitchen and Woodford followed her, tackling her to the ground. He then grabbed some knives, which the victim was able to get away from him. At one point, he wielded a sword, court documents said.
Woodford stayed on top of the victim, then pinned her against the cabinets and began choking her. The victim said she struggled to breathe, and officers said she had red marks around her neck and bite marks on her hand, according to court documents.
The victim crawled toward the front door and began screaming for help, she told police.
When Woodford went to another room, the victim called 911. She whispered just the apartment number into the phone because she did not want Woodford to hear, court documents said.
Woodford remains at the Johnson County jail on $3,250 bond. An initial hearing is set for Aug. 25.
