Police say man held ex-wife at gunpoint
A Chartiers Township man was arrested Wednesday by township police after he allegedly assaulted his ex-wife and held her at gunpoint at his home for 45 minutes.
David Carl Imhoff, 36, of 445 Moon Road, was charged by police with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and unlawful restraint.
Sgt. Charles Harton and Officer Donald Cooper received a 911 call from Imhoff’s former wife, Brenda Worstell, who said she was in Hickory but had been assaulted by Imhoff earlier in the day. She told police he punched her several times in the face and held a handgun on her. He also reportedly told her that he was going to commit suicide.
While she was being treated at Canonsburg General Hospital, Worstell told Sgt. Steven Horvath that the two had been arguing for the past several days. She told the detective she had been staying with her parents to let things cool down.
Worstell told police that she had gone to Imhoff’s home to switch cars about 5:30 a.m. The two reportedly got into an argument and she left. Imhoff then called her just before noon and asked her to come over so they could talk.
Worstell was sitting on the couch with Imhoff when he “started acting crazy,” police said. Imhoff reportedly told her he had taken pills and heroin, and she told police that she had used heroin earlier in the day.
Imhoff then allegedly told Worstell he was going to kill her before pulling out a .22-caliber handgun he had hidden behind a cushion and pointing it at her chest.
Worstell ran to the front door, but Imhoff blocked it and would not let her pass, police said. He then tackled her to the floor and held her down, choking her until she lost consciousness several times. She told police that she tried to get up but could not get him off her. Worstell also said he punched her two or three times in the left eye and temple.
Imhoff told her that he was going to put her hand on the gun and fire it, police stated in court documents. Worstell told police that Imhoff suddenly looked at her and snapped out of it. He then started to cry and apologize.
Worstell told Imhoff that she would not call police. She left the house, ran to her car and then drove to Hickory, where she called police.
Imhoff was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in the Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday.