Allegheny Township man accused of attacking nursing assistant at Allegheny Valley Hospital

An Allegheny Township man is accused of choking a nursing assistant at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison.

Alexander Paul Demarco, 27, was arrested Monday on charges filed by Highmark Health Police in the alleged attack in the hospital’s behavioral health unit Jan. 16, according to court records.

Demarco did not have an attorney listed in court records. He was arraigned Monday night and released on a nonmonetary bond.

In a criminal complaint against Demarco, a Highmark Health Police officer said the alleged victim said she entered Demarco’s room to give him towels. When Demarco came out of the bathroom, authorities say, he looked at her and said, “Is there anything else you can do for me?” and then reached over and began touching her inappropriately.

The complaint describes the victim as “small.”. Demarco is described as “large,” at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 265 pounds.

The woman said when she immediately backed away from Demarco, he quickly grabbed her arm, pulled her toward him and placed his arm around her neck. The woman said as she screamed for help, Demarco said, “I’m going to kill you, (expletive).”

A male staff member heard the woman’s cries for help, ran into Demarco’s room and pulled Demarco’s arm away from the woman’s neck, the complaint says. The woman then ran to the nurse’s station to get away.

The woman was examined in the emergency room and released, according to the complaint. Her injuries were photographed.

Demarco is charged with a felony count of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, simple assault, strangulation and indecent assault.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 3 before District Judge Carolyn Bengel.