Apollo man accused of tackling, strangling woman during argument ordered to stand trial
An Apollo man accused of tackling a woman and strangling her during an argument has been ordered to stand trial.
Joseph Kipling Norris, 38, of the 300 block of South Fourth Street was charged with a felony count of strangulation along with simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment.
Norris waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday, May 11, before District Judge James Andring, who ordered him to stand trial on the charges in Armstrong County Court.
Norris had been detained in the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of a $15,000 cash bond since his arrest May 2, court records show.
However, he was released from custody after his bail was changed to a $10,000 nonmonetary bond on Thursday, records show.
Police responding to a domestic dispute at Norris’ home May 2 wrote in a criminal complaint that the woman told officers the pair were fighting and that he was smashing items in the house. A broken internet router was found in the living room.
The woman told police that Norris did not assault her, but she nonetheless wanted him removed, the complaint said.
Police said the pair agreed to remain in the house, but apart, because Norris did not have another place to go if he was ordered to leave.
Police said the woman sent a text after they left to tell them she was spending the night in an upstairs bedroom while Norris stayed on the sofa downstairs.
A short time later, police got texts from the woman with video clips attached, the complaint said.
The first clip showed Norris destroying items that belonged to the woman’s child, police said. A second one shows Norris kicking holes in the walls before he rushes toward the woman and tackles her on the steps, the complaint said.
Before police were able to return to the house, the woman sent a text to the officer telling him that Norris choked her after she was tackled, according to the complaint.
Police said Norris was sitting on the front stoop waiting to be taken into custody when they arrived.
Tony LaRussa is a TribLive reporter. A Pittsburgh native, he covers crime and courts in the Alle-Kiski Valley. He can be reached at tlarussa@triblive.com.
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