An argument over money and other things, including use of a wood burning stove, led to Chandler police arresting a man on domestic abuse charges.
Formal charges of assault and battery by strangulation and domestic abuse, assault and battery, were formally filed Nov. 5 in Lincoln County District Court against William Michael James, 29, of Chandler.
Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk set a $3,000 bond for James with the stipulated condition he have no contact with the victim.
She scheduled his initial appearance for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2.
The assault and battery by strangulation, a felony, accuses James on Oct. 30 of strangling or attempting to strangle Saundra Lee Tucker-Schafer, his wife, with intentions of harming her.
The misdemeanor count against James states that on the same date he struck the woman in the mouth with his fist.
Chandler Police Officer Shane Mustard states in a probable cause affidavit that just before 3 a.m. on Oct. 30 he was dispatched to a Chandler residence for a domestic in progress. Dispatch advised him the woman calling said her husband had choked her and had her trapped in the bedroom.
Mustard asked dispatch to notify Com-Center for assistance from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Dispatch advised Mustard the suspect, later identified as James, went outside and was trying to leave. As the Chandler officer was arriving, he was met by Lincoln County Deputy L. Stover, Jr., and as they approached, the suspect stepped outside. Mustard said he began to speak with him while Stover contacted the woman.
James reportedly told the officer it was a small argument over money and other things and that his wife was upset about him attempting to heat the house with a wood burning stove.
James claimed his wife had pushed him, he pushed her back trying to get her away from him and that she had bitten him on his right upper arm. Mustard took a photo of the bite mark, he stated.
At that point, Stover returned and asked Mustard to go talk with the woman.
Mustard reported he observed some slight swelling to the woman’s lips and neck and also noticed some redness around her neck. He took photos of those injuries.
She advised the Chandler officer they had been drinking and began arguing and that James choked her twice using both hands, then placed his arm around her neck choking her again. She acknowledged biting him on his arm to get him to release his grip.
The woman further advised Mustard that James had struck her in the mouth, knocking out a tooth. The officer asked dispatch to start medical for an evaluation.
Mustard then returned to James and placed him into custody. James was transported to the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler.