From staff reports
An Oil City man accused of strangling and hitting a woman during a domestic dispute earlier this month waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.
A criminal complaint filed through district judge Patrick Lowrey’s office said that at about 5 p.m. on Dec. 12, Oil City police were dispatched to a West Fourth Street residence for a reported domestic dispute.
Police arrived and made contact with 23-year-old Aaron Wheeler, who was attempting to leave the home, the complaint said.
The woman said Wheeler then entered his bedroom and began to throw around items while attempting to pack his clothes, the complaint said.
The woman said she tried to calm Wheeler, but he struck her with an open hand on the left side of the face, the complaint said.
Wheeler then shoved her into a dresser, the woman said, and threw her onto a bed where he held her down, the complaint said.
Police observed physical injuries to the woman, including an injury under her left eye and bruises and scratches on both of her arms, the complaint said.
Wheeler was charged with a felony count of strangulation, a misdemeanor count of simple assault and a summary count of harassment.
He was released Wednesday from the Venango County jail on $25,000 unsecured bail.
