Lonnie D. Clark had been watching the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Tuesday and grew so “upset” that he allegedly choked and punched his girlfriend when she wanted to change the channel, according to documents obtained by USA Today.
Clark, 53, faces charges of strangulation, simple assault, and harassment.
About 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, police responded to the Scottish Inn, after Clark’s girlfriend called 911. The woman reported that Clark had assaulted her and that she had left the room, documents state.
The Fairview Township Police officers arrived at the motel and spoke with Clark’s girlfriend, noting that she had red marks on her neck and right cheek.
She told police her boyfriend had been drinking alcohol and watching the impeachment trial all day and began to get “upset,” although documents do not state what caused his anger.
When the woman told Clark she “would like to watch something else,” Clark began to curse at her and called her “dumb” and “stupid.”
She told police she sat on Clark’s lap to try to talk to him, prompting him to start choking her with his hands.
The woman escaped Clark’s grasp. He pursued and allegedly punched her twice and pushed her several times, according to documents. When the girlfriend attempted to leave a second time, Clark grabbed her around the neck again and punched her.
She eventually was able to find refuge in the bathroom, where she hid until Clark left. She then ran out of the room and reached the motel’s main office, where she called 911.