OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — An Oil City man is facing strangulation charges after he allegedly choked a woman during a domestic dispute early Friday morning.

Oil City Police Department Officer Drake filed the following charges against 36-year-old Kyle Patrick McCleery on Friday, July 13, at Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish’s office:

• Strangulation — Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck, Felony 2
• Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
• Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary

According to a criminal complaint filed by Officer Drake, police were dispatched by Venango County 9-1-1 to 37 Glenview Avenue for a report of a domestic dispute.

Moments earlier, 9-1-1 received a call from a woman who was crying and stated that her boyfriend was trying to choke her.

Police arrived at the scene around 3:12 a.m. and found a man, later identified as Kyle McCleery, sitting on the front porch at the residence.

When Officer Drake asked McCleery about the incident he said there “was no good way to explain it without it sounding bad,” according to the complaint.

The complaint states that McCleery went on to tell police that he was “playing around” and choked the victim after a small argument.

Police then interviewed the victim who stated that she and McCleery were in the living room watching TV and having drinks when McCleery began referring to her as “c*nt,” according to the complaint.

The victim said that she decided to ignore McCleery and went upstairs to go to bed.

The complaint states that McCleery then attempted to call the victim several times; however, she refused to answer.

He also allegedly yelled “I’m calling you, c*nt,” which the victim also ignored.

The complaint states that McCleery then went upstairs where he allegedly shoved the victim against the wall before grabbing her by the neck and strangling her, according to the complaint.

The victim told police that she was unable to breathe or speak while McCleery had his hands around her neck, according to the complaint.

The complaint states that when McCleery stopped choking the victim, she immediately dialed 9-1-1 to call for help.

The victim was visibly “scared, shaking, and crying,” according to police.

McCleery and the victim were transported to the Oil City Police Department in separate vehicles.

The victim was interviewed a second time and stated that she and McCleery are living together and “attempting to work on their relationship.”

She again told police what happened during the incident and said she was surprised because “this type of incident has never happened before,” according to the complaint.

She also told police that she could see “the rage” in McCleery’s eyes while he was allegedly choking her, according to the complaint.

Police interviewed McCleery around 3:45 a.m., and he stated that the two were “going back and forth” and saying “hurtful things” to each other.

The complaint states that McCleery said he went upstairs and “jokingly choked” the victim and that “he sometimes doesn’t know his own strength.”

McCleery was arraigned before Judge Fish on Friday at 9:15 a.m. and placed in the Venango County Jail after failing to post $20,000.00 cash bail.

He faces a preliminary hearing on July 18 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Fish.