This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Man Charged With Assaulting Pregnant Girlfriend

Police charge a Palmer Township man with aggravated assault after a fight with his pregnant girlfriend and his father.

A man faces a possible 57 years in prison if convicted of domestic violence charges regarding an alleged assault of his pregnant girlfriend and father during an argument in late April.

Walter Trommer Morrison Jr., 23, of 344 N. Nulton Ave., was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, making terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and harassment in a dispute at his father's home on April 23.

He was arraigned by District Judge Jacqueline Taschner on Monday.

Find out what's happening in Palmer-Forkswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to Todd Lohman, Morrison's father, Walter Sr., told police that he had been assaulted by his son after intervening in an argument his son was having with his girlfriend.

He said the couple live in his basement.

Find out what's happening in Palmer-Forkswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The father told police that his son appeared to be intoxicated and began a physical confrontation with the father and girlfriend Sierra M. Griswold, who is eight months pregnant.

Griswold told police that the argument started because Morrison was drinking beer, a violation of his probation.

She poured the beer out, they argued and Morrison allegedly told Griswold that he was going to "kill you and the baby," she told police.

Griswold told police that Morrison wrapped his arm around her throat from behind, causing her not to be able to breathe for several seconds.

After she freed herself and tried to head up the stairs, Griswold said, Morrison grabbed her, pulled her down the stairs and then was on top of her stomach with his arms wrapped around her mid-section, court records state.

Griswold reported pain in her neck, throat and stomach and was taken by Suburban EMS to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem for treatment.

Police said Morrison fled the residence but later called and talked to police. Taschner said Morrison turned himself in Monday.

Morrison was charged with aggravated assault of Griswold and the unborn baby "under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life."

The charges state that Morrison allegedly had Griswold in a choke hold.

Taschner said that Morrison had two prior assaults and convictions and another case involving a family incident. He was being held on $100,000 bail, Taschner said.

The foregoing arrest information was supplied by District Judge Jacqueline Taschner's office. It does not indicate a conviction.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Palmer-Forks