Police: Lower Nazareth Man Uses Handcuffs, Rope to Forcibly Bind Girlfriend

A  man, with the help of a male friend, tied up his girlfriend with rope and placed handcuffs on her early Monday, then forced her to take a prescription sedative, court records say.

The suspect, Nicholas Joseph Yonak, 32, and his friend “attempted to silence” the woman by forcing a sock into her mouth. They carried her downstairs and later carried her back to her home, the records say.

The incident, the woman told police, was triggered by an argument between her and Yonak.

Yonak, of 4349 Newburg Road, Apt. C, was charged with simple assault and unlawful restraint. He was committed to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $10,000 bail.

A criminal complaint filed by Patrolman Anthony Kovalovsky of said the incident occurred “sometime after" 1:30 a.m. when, the woman told police, she and Yonak were arguing.

The argument “became physical” and Yonak -- a big man at 6 feet 2 inches and 240 pounds -- kicked her, knocking her to the floor.

The woman had bruises on her right leg and both arms and was complaining of pain.

Later, she told police, Yonak and the friend restrained her with the rope and handcuffs and forced her to take “Xanax or some other type of prescription sedative.”

Yonak was arraigned later Monday by of Lower Nazareth Township.

The complaint says nothing about charges against the friend.