A Maspeth man has been arrested and charged for allegedly choking out his girlfriend with a baseball bat two times last month, police said.
According to the criminal complaint provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, Vaghn Pitts, 21, and his 19-year-old girlfriend got into a verbal dispute on the evening of May 20, inside an apartment near the intersection of 58th Street and 57th Drive.
Things turned physical when Pitts allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face several times, threw her against a wall and put a baseball bat on her neck, causing her difficulty breathing, cops said.
Then, on May 21, another dispute turned violent when Pitts allegedly threw the teen onto the bed, again placed the bat on her neck and applied pressure. In this instance, law enforcement agents added, the victim temporarily lost consciousness and sustained swelling and bruising to her neck.
When she regained consciousness, police said, Pitts allegedly repeatedly punched her in her face causing swelling and bruising to her lip.
When the victim attempted to leave the residence through a window, she sustained lacerations and bruising to her legs, the criminal complaint continues. Pitts then allegedly followed her out of the house and continued punching her in the face.
Officers from the 104th Precinct responded to the incident and EMS units removed the teenager to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries.
As a result of an investigation, Pitts was charged with second-degree strangulation, two counts of third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and two counts of second-degree harassment.
Pitts is being held on $50,000 bond or $25,000 cash. The judge also issued a temporary order of protection against prohibiting him from any contact with the victim. He is due back in Queens Criminal Court on June 12.
