Scottdale man strangled 16-year-old girl, cops say

An 18-year-old Scottdale man is in the Westmoreland County Prison on $100,000 bond after borough police said he assaulted and strangled a 16-year-old girl during an argument this week.

Ford B. Johnson II was arraigned before District Judge Mark Mansour in night court Monday on charges of strangulation, simple assault and harassment after the 2 p.m. Monday assault that occurred inside Parker’s apartment, police said.

The teenage victim had to be taken by ambulance for treatment of multiple injuries at Excela Frick Hospital in Mt. Pleasant, according to borough police officer Matthew Zelenak.

Zelenak reported in court documents that he was called to Johnson’s apartment in the 400 block of Parker Avenue after a neighbor heard a girl screaming and banging inside the apartment “like the victim was being thrown off the wall several times.”

According to court documents, when Zelenak arrived he found the girl crying in an upstairs bathroom “complaining about pain on the back of her head and back.”

Police reported she also had multiple bruises on her body and “marks on the side of her neck consistent with being strangled.” Zelenak said the victim told authorities and paramedics who treated her at the scene that Johnson caused her injuries.

Zelenak said in court documents filed before East Huntingdon District Judge Charles Moore that as he was speaking with the victim and calling an ambulance, Johnson attempted to leave. Zelenak said he was able to take Johnson into custody and place him inside the police cruiser.

Johnson’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 10 before Moore.