Cops: W.Va. man accused of assaulting, choking woman in Delmont

A Martinsburg, W.Va., man is being held without bail in the Westmoreland County Prison after he was accused of choking and threatening to kill a woman in Delmont.

Ricardo Feliciano, 42, was charged with criminal trespass, cruelty to animals, disorderly conduct, harassment, stalking, strangulation and terroristic threats filed by Delmont Police following the Feb. 25 incident at the woman’s apartment.

Feliciano was arraigned Wednesday before Export District Judge Charles R. Conway. According to court dockets, Conway denied Feliciano bond, saying “no condition or combination of conditions can ensure the safety of the community.”

The woman told police she returned to her residence 5:41 p.m. with her 11-month-old son when Feliciano broke into the residence and began arguing with her. The argument became physical and the woman told police that Feliciano began choking her and said he was going to kill her.

As the woman was being assaulted, she told police that the toddler was next to her, strapped into his car seat.

Officer Dylan Keffer said the woman was able to flee the residence with the child after her dog began biting Feliciano.

“(Feliciano) then began to choke the dog as the woman and her child fled,” Keffer said.

The woman fled to a nearby Fox’s Pizza on Greensburg Street, where she telephoned police.

Keffer said police photographed the woman’s injuries, which included bruises around her neck.

Feliciano, who had fled when officers arrived, was arrested later. A preliminary hearing is March 17.