BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested on felony charges, including strangulation and intimidation with a deadly weapon, following a domestic battery incident reported to the Bedford Police Department on September 25.
The suspect, Nathan Anderson, 49, of Bedford, was taken into custody on September 26 after the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office was consulted.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Stuart Ratcliff, the female victim came to the Bedford Police Department wishing to report a battery that had just occurred at her residence. She told police the argument began in the backyard of a home on Hillcrest Road after she brought up one of Anderson’s female coworkers, causing him to become upset.
The victim advised that as she attempted to leave the residence, Anderson followed her to a bedroom, where he allegedly demanded and took her phone. She reported that Anderson then grabbed and pulled the weave from her hair, causing pain, punched her one time with a closed fist in her rib area, and choked her from behind in the kitchen, where she nearly lost consciousness. He then pressed a knife to her body, saying he would kill her.
The woman was able to flee the home after Anderson was distracted by a phone call from a co-worker. Barefoot, she walked to the police department.
The victim signed a battery affidavit, and photos of her injuries were taken.
On September 26, Sergeant T. Gerkin located Anderson and conducted a traffic stop. Anderson denied that any altercation had occurred with the victim.
After Anderson was transported to the Lawrence County Jail, a subsequent inventory of his vehicle yielded a key piece of evidence: a large piece of artificial hair with grass clippings was found on the passenger floorboard. Sergeant Gerkin collected the item as evidence, noting it was consistent with the victim’s claim that the defendant had pulled out her weave.
Anderson was arrested on charges of domestic battery, strangulation, and intimidation with a deadly weapon.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
