Man arrested after assault on pregnant woman

YOUNGSTOWN — A man was arrested on a charge of assault early this morning after a pregnant woman said he dragged her on her stomach and choked her.

The woman told police she was at her sister’s house in the 300 block of School Street at about 3:10 a.m. when Jeffrey Averette, 44, of High Street, knocked on the door and told her to leave.

The victim told police she opened the door and Averette grabbed her and choked her and began dragging her to a nearby home on her back and stomach. The woman is six months pregnant and Averette is believed to be the father of the child she is carrying, reports said.

Police found marks around the woman’s neck and she had difficulty speaking because she was choked, reports said.

Averette was taken to the Mahoning County jail. He is expected to be arraigned in Municipal Court Tuesday.