Oct 9, 2018 2 min read

A Washington man was placed in Washington County jail on a parole detainer after he allegedly choked and assaulted a 21-year-old Amwell Township woman during a confrontation outside his Fayette Street home Sunday night.

Terrence Cohen Jr., 29, was taken into custody near his home at 719 Fayette St. after the alleged victim ran to a nearby convenience store for help.

Police were called about 8:40 p.m. to the Circle K, 701 W. Chestnut St., and found the woman, who was holding a small child inside a locked office at the store. The woman had facial injuries.

The 21-year-old woman told police she was sitting with Cohen on the porch of his home when she got a text message on her cellphone. He reportedly grabbed the phone and became angry after he read the message, police said.

She told police she went to her vehicle in an attempt to get away with her child when he jumped on the hood and broke the windshield.

The alleged victim then drove around the back of his residence, where he allegedly tried to pull her out of the vehicle. Cohen allegedly put a seat belt around her neck, choking her with it. She told police that she could not breathe. Using his other hand, Cohen allegedly grabbed her head and banged it off the vehicle. The woman said she briefly lost consciousness. When she came to, she fled with her child, police said.

Employees of the convenience store told police they could hear yelling outside the store. They separated Cohen and the woman, putting her in the office and locking the door until police arrived.

Cohen left, but was found walking near his home, police said.

Police said the seat belt left a mark around the woman’s neck. She also had black eyes and swelling on the right side of her face. She was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel but refused to be taken to Washington Hospital.

City police plan to file charges related to the assault.