Austintown man faces charges in woman’s assault

Staff report

Austintown

A township man will appear in court today on charges of felonious assault, aggravated menacing and drug paraphernalia, accused in an attack against his girlfriend, police said.

Thomas Neapolitan, 24, was arrested just after midnight Sunday. He will appear in Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown on the charges at 9 a.m. today.

Neapolitan was convicted in Austintown court of menacing in November 2009 and served six months’ probation as punishment.

The suspect was stopped by Austintown police as he was leaving a home on Brandomyne Drive in his truck, where the incident occurred, according to a report.

The 32-year-old victim told police she and Neapolitan were arguing at the residence when he bit her nose and punched her in the leg. She said she walked away from the suspect and got into the shower, but he followed after her and began to assault her again, the report said.

Neapolitan reportedly stuck his hand into her mouth and attempted to pull her tongue out, causing serious injury, police said. During this time, the victim told police the suspect said, “I have to get rid of you.”

Officers reported that when they arrived at the house, the victim was bleeding from the mouth and was having a difficult time speaking and breathing.

The victim was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for treatment.