Police arrested a Greenwood man after they say he assaulted a woman in front of a child.
Jessie Couture, 45, was arrested on charges of domestic battery with a prior unrelated conviction against the same family member and strangulation, both felonies, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will decide what, if any, charges to file.
Police were called to a home in the 100 block of Brunswick Drive shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a report of a domestic disturbance. When police arrived, the victim was in an ambulance being treated for possible injuries, and Couture had left the scene, according to a Greenwood Police Department report.
The victim told police she and Couture had had an argument earlier that evening, and she was used to Couture hitting her. Tuesday night, Couture punched her in the side and hit her multiple times in the ribs. She had to hit him in the face to get him off her, according to the report.
Couture had been drinking alcohol since about 1 p.m. A child was also in the room at the time of the incident, the report said.
While police were speaking with the victim, Couture pulled into the house’s driveway and got out of his car. Police tried to ask Couture questions about the incident, but he refused to give a statement, according to the report.
Police noticed he had bloodshot eyes, poor balance, and slurred and slowed speech. There was also an odor of alcohol coming from him, so he was detained by police for domestic battery and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, police said.
The child told police Couture and the victim were in the bedroom when the incident occurred. They said they saw Couture climb on top of the victim, put his hands around her neck and punch her multiple times. They also saw the victim fight back to get Couture off her, the report said.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out, according to the report.
Couture was taken to a police station, where he refused to submit to a standard field sobriety test, police said.
Police would later request, and receive, a warrant for Couture’s blood. The blood was taken at a local hospital and sent to a state laboratory for testing, the report said.
Couture was taken to the Johnson County jail where he is held without bond.
