Man Charged After Allegedly Slapping and Strangling a Woman Saturday Afternoon

(KNSI) — An 18-year-old St. Cloud man is facing charges of domestic assault and interfering with a 911 call after police say he slapped and choked a woman, broke her computers, and tackled her when she tried to call for help.

Police say a 911 call came in just before 1:40 p.m. on November 6th, and when a dispatcher answered, no one was there, but according to the criminal complaint, there was a woman who could be heard asking for police, and it sounded like there was a struggle going on. Officers responded to the home and found a woman who said Vinneo De’Aries Cotten had assaulted her. They say she had red marks on her face and redness around her neck.

The woman explained to officers that earlier in the day, she was with Cotten, and they were driving to the Crossroads Center Mall. She said Cotten was slapping her and hitting her in the face. She said Cotten got out of her car and she went home. When she got there, she saw her computers were broken and said Cotten began yelling and spitting at her and choked her.

She said her phone was damaged, so she asked Siri to call 911. She said Cotten was in the room and heard her, then tackled her and took her phone.

Cotten was charged with felony domestic assault by strangulation and interfering with a 911 call. Bail was set at $40,000 without conditions. His next court appearance is February 4th.

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