CLEARFIELD – A Madera man has been accused of strangling a woman during a domestic disturbance earlier this month.
Erik Stephen Nicholson, 31, has been charged by Clearfield-based state police with strangulation, F2; simple assault, M2; and harassment, S. Bail has been set at $25,000.
Nicholson had all charges held to the Court of Common Pleas following a preliminary hearing Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on the evening of Oct. 8, Trooper Brian Elensky responded to a reported domestic disturbance on Hagarty Street in Madera. When he arrived at the scene, Elensky located Nicholson seated in front of the residence, and he had a knife next to him.
Elensky proceeded to interview Nicholson to determine what had happened at the residence. He said that he had been in an argument with the woman, and now she had him locked out. He claimed it wasn’t physical in nature and only a verbal argument.
Elensky went inside the residence to interview the woman, at which time he observed red markings on the left side of her neck. She said the couple had been arguing and she was afraid of him because he was “acting violent.” She believed he was going to hurt her.
The woman had made a report to state police two days earlier due to Nicholson’s behavior, which she attributed to drug use, according to the affidavit.
In her written statement, she said she was outside smoking. When she attempted to go inside, Nicholson was standing in the doorway and refused to let her by. He allegedly grabbed her and squeezed her face and neck area.
The woman said she tried to get by him but became pinned against the door. Nicholson then allegedly slammed her head against the door and grabbed her face and the sides of her neck. She said when he squeezed again, it caused her to gag.
At this time, she managed to pull away and tried to go out the door. As she did, she said Nicholson slammed the door on her, which smashed her head between the door and the frame.
The woman also told Elensky that three juveniles were at home at the time of the disturbance.
