A Carter County man faces a felony charge after police say he choked his wife during an argument.
Officers of the Carter County Sheriff’s Department arrested Perry Melton, 40, of 158 Crestview Drive, Apt. 2, Friday and charged him with aggravated assault under domestic violence.
Officers went to the home on Crestview Drive after 911 received a call about a domestic disturbance at the home. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman who said her husband, whom she identified as Melton, had choked her.
The two had been arguing, the woman told police, and when she tried to call her father, Melton took the phone away from her and threw it in the toilet. The woman said she was able to get another phone and call her father.
“She stated it was at this time Perry realized that her father was going to call the Sheriff’s Department and he became angrier,” CCSD Lt. Keith Range said. “She stated that he tried to get the second phone from her and when she wouldn’t release it he slapped her in the face and began choking her until she released the phone.”
“(She) stated that he choked her hard enough to disrupt her breathing but did not cause serious injury,” Range said, adding the woman did have redness on her neck “consistent with being choked.”
Melton fled the home before officers arrived, but he was later found and arrested.
On Monday, Melton appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court where he was arraigned, a public defender was appointed to represent him and Judge Keith Bowers set Melton’s bond at $1,000.
Melton is remains held in the Carter County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court again on August 11.