By Maggie Kenworthy
InkFreeNews

COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man was recently arrested after police say he battered and strangled a pregnant woman until she blacked out.

Donald Parsons

Donald James Allen Parsons, 29, Columbia City, is charged with criminal confinement, a level 3 felony; domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman, a level 5 felony; domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 5 felony; and strangulation, a level 5 felony.

On Saturday, Sept. 5, an officer with Columbia City Police was dispatched to a residence in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a woman who advised that she and Parsons had been in an argument and that he had strangled her. The officer observed red marks and bruises on the victim’s neck. The woman was 14 weeks pregnant.

According to the woman, she and Parsons were arguing inside the residence’s bedroom. She said Persons attempted to grab her cell phone and scratched her wrist. At that point, she pulled her knees up toward her chest to shield herself from Parsons but he grabbed her legs and attempted to pry them apart.

The woman then left the bedroom but the argument continued in the hallway. According to the woman, Parsons then used his left hand to squeeze her neck. At one point, Parsons yelled, “I’ll give you a reason to call the cops.”

He then grabbed her around the neck again and squeezed while lifting her off the ground. The woman said that at that time, she lost consciousness. When she woke up, she was laying on a bed and discovered that Parsons had moved her. The women then exited the residence and called the police.

The officer received a search warrant for the residence and found Parsons inside. Parsons was arrested and did not answer the officer about what had occurred, stated that he would only do so in the presence of his attorney.

Parsons was booked into the Whitley County Jail with a $50,000 surety bond.