DUBOIS – A DuBois man is facing charges for assaulting a woman and fighting with police after they arrived on the scene.
Dustin Paul Notto, 28, was charged with felony strangulation as well as misdemeanor resisting arrest, obstructing the administration of law and simple assault in relation to an incident on South Avenue in DuBois on June 27.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were speaking with him on a porch while he kept yelling at the victim and another woman, saying he didn’t hit her.
He was advised to quit yelling and interfering with the investigation. He tried to go inside the residence, but an officer blocked him.
Notto was then advised he was under arrest for simple assault and while they were trying to handcuff him, he pulled away. He continued to resist and struggled with them, refusing to put his hands behind his back, police said.
He reportedly attempted to jump off the porch, but the officers stopped him. They were then able to get control of him and place him into handcuffs.
The victim said she and Notto had walked to the residence. Shortly after they arrived, she said he started “flipping out on me.”
First, he allegedly smacked her in the face and told her to shut up. He threw an apple at her before trying to choke her, she stated. He also reportedly threatened to punch the other people at the home if they called police.
An officer noted in the criminal complaint that the victim had red marks on her face, arms and neck which were consistent with being hit and choked.
Next, police spoke with the woman who called. She reported that Notto started yelling at the victim and then punched her with a closed fist while they were on the porch.
He also pushed her up against the wall on the porch, this witness said.
After they went inside, she said Notto hit the victim in the head two more times. Notto then threw an apple, striking the victim in the ribs, before choking her, she reported.
During centralized court in DuBois Friday, Notto waived his right to a preliminary hearing, sending the case onto the county court for further disposition.
He is being held in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
