By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
CAIRO — A Cairo man was arrested May 25 and charged with choking and assault in a domestic incident, state police said in a statement Monday.
Joel Couvertier, 40, of Cairo, was arrested May 25 after he turned himself in to the state police barracks in Catskill, police said.
The alleged incident occurred May 24 at a home on Route 39 in the town of Cairo. State police from the Cairo barracks responded to a report of a domestic incident in progress.
“When troopers arrived at the location, the suspect fled the area in a black Chevy pick-up truck,” police said. “Investigation revealed that the suspect, Joel Couvertier, age 40, from the town of Cairo, physically assaulted, choked and prevented the victim from calling 911.”
The alleged assault took place in front of three minors, police added.
An investigation revealed Couvertier had an order of protection against the victim and the children living in the home, according to police.
Couvertier was charged with first-degree criminal contempt, a class E felony. He faces additional charges of criminal obstruction of breathing, third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal contempt and endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors.
Couvertier was arraigned in the Town of Cairo Court and remanded to the Greene County Jail.