From staff reports
An Oil City man accused strangling and punching a woman during a domestic dispute last week waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.
Darrell Banks Jr., 19, was charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and strangulation and misdemeanor counts of unlawful restraint, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
A criminal complaint filed through district judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said that between 3 and 5 a.m. Sept. 2, Banks engaged in a physical altercation with a woman at 14 E. Bissell Ave.
The woman’s brother pulled Banks off her, and she ran outside. Banks chased after her and punched her in the face before bringing her back inside by pulling her hair, according to the complaint.
The woman received medical attention at both UPMC Northwest and UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. Her injuries included bruising to the eyes, neck and upper lip, a fractured upper jaw and a broken nose, the complaint said.
Banks remains in the Venango County jail. Bail was denied as he would not comply with non-monetary conditions and is considered a danger to others, according to online court documents.
