New Kensington man charged with strangling woman during argument

A New Kensington man was charged with a felony count of strangulation after, police say, he choked a woman during an argument.

City police arrested Ralph Earl Scott, 32, of Pine Court, after responding to a 911 call at about 8:45 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of Fourth Avenue, asking that a man be removed from the residence, according to a criminal complaint filed in support of the charges.

Scott was gone when police arrived, but the victim told them she and Scott got into an argument and that he told her he was “going to have somebody come to the house and shoot her,” according to the complaint.

The woman told police that, upon hearing that, she told Scott to leave.

He responded by “choking her, rendering her unable to breath,” the complaint said.

The woman told police she scratched Scott’s face while trying to defend herself and he left after she called 911 for help.

Officer Salvador Zepeda examined the victim for injuries and reported she had bruising on her throat “consistent with pressure being applied” as well as a cut on her chin, according to the complaint.

The woman also spoke with a hoarse voice that was not present when she spoke to police prior to being choked, the complaint said.

The woman declined medical treatment and provide police with a written statement.

Officers learned that, while they were speaking with the victim, Scott showed up at the New Kensington police station.

When interviewed, he told them that during the argument the woman scratched his face and “attempted to hit him with a plank of wood that had nails in it,” police said.

Scott refused medical treatment. He was arrested and charged with strangulation and a misdemeanor count of making terroristic threats.

He is being held in the Westmoreland County Jail after failing to post a $20,000 cash bond at his arraignment on the charges, according to court documents.

Police said the incident remains under investigation and the woman also could face charges for her role in the argument.

Scott faces a Nov. 4 preliminary hearing before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. He did not have an attorney listed in court records.