Walnutport man charged with choking his mother-in-law in front of his daughter

A Walnutport man charged with choking his mother-in-law in front of his daughter is scheduled to appear in court.

Dustin Slifer, 37, of the 200 block of Main Street, faces charges on one count each of strangulation, simple assault, harassment, and resisting arrest or other law enforcement.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Nicholas Hartman of the Walnutport Police Department:

At 2:24 a.m. Sept. 1, Hartman was dispatched to his headquarters to help a woman who had been locked out of her house.

While en route, Hartman was redirected to the 200 block of Main Street for an assault, which he later found out was connected.

Lehigh County Communication told Hartman that the residence in question has a history of domestic calls, and is flagged for having weapons in the home.

Hartman asked for backup from the Slatington Police Department.

The woman told Hartman that her son-in-law, Slifer, grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the outside of the house, and after that, threw her to the ground. Slifer’s daughter was watching and yelling.

The victim’s shirt was torn and she had cuts on her back and ankles and a cut on her lip from what looked like a bite mark.

Hartman then walked toward the side porch of the residence and shined his flashlight in the window, where he saw Slifer standing, holding a camera with a red dot in his hand aimed toward the window.

Hartman could hear a young girl crying and yelling from inside the residence.

Hartman, along with patrolmen William Borst and Brian Stern of the Slatington Police Department began knocking on the doors and windows, telling him to open up.

Slifer opened the porch door and Hartman told him to put his hands behind his back and reached for his left hand.

Slifer resisted and Hartman threw him to the ground where the struggle continued, with all three officers on top of Slifer. Eventually Borst used a Taser to subdue Slifer.

Police took Slifer into custody.

At the station, Slifer said, “I didn’t know you were the cops, that’s why I pulled away.”

Slifer said, “If I knew it was you, I wouldn’t have resisted. Me and (you) are cool, and I always try to be respectful to you.”

Slifer is free in lieu of $10,000 unsecured bail.

Slifer is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Friday before District Judge Robert Hawke of Walnutport.