BEDFORD — A Bedford man is facing felony and misdemeanor domestic violence charges after a multi-county welfare check led police to investigate an alleged attack in which a woman was suffocated to prevent her from screaming.
Louis Adam Koch, 26, is charged with domestic battery and strangulation following an investigation into a July 8 incident.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Officer Calvin Callahan responded to a camper in the 4900 block of River Road on July 11 after Washington County authorities requested a welfare check on a woman whose family reported she was in danger.
Upon arriving at the property, Officer Callahan spoke via phone with the woman, who stated she had left the residence, was seeking a safe place to stay, and wanted to report domestic abuse. When questioned by the officer, Koch admitted to a history of arguments and claimed the two had only pushed each other weeks prior, though police noted he was visibly shaking.
The victim later met with Officer Callahan at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department. She reported that on the night of July 8, an argument escalated when Koch shoved her off a bed into a nightstand and backhanded her across the face.
When she screamed, Koch allegedly jumped on top of her and covered her mouth and nose with his hand, using his body weight to hold her down and muffling her screams so others on the property would not hear. The victim stated she was unable to breathe during the restraint.
Officers documented several days-old bruises on the victim’s arms consistent with her report. She also provided information regarding previous unreported domestic violence incidents.
Following the completion of a domestic violence lethality assessment and formal affidavit, police moved forward with charges against Koch.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
