Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com
Penn State police arrested an 18-year-old student early Saturday morning for the alleged indecent assault and strangulation of a woman in a University Park residence hall room.
The woman told police that Preston J. Brindle, of Spring City, became angry with her on Friday night while they were in downtown State College and “made a face he has made in the past when he has hurt her,” according to a criminal complaint. When she began to run away, Brindle allegedly pulled her by the hair, causing her to fall to the ground.
Brindle then followed her back to her room on campus, took her key from her, and went with her to the bathroom so she could not use it as an opportunity to call for help, police wrote.
When they returned to her room, the woman told police, Brindle first pinned her to the bed by laying on top of her and then took her phone from her, using racial slurs to describe an ex-boyfriend as he looked through her contacts.
Brindle then allegedly strangled the woman by squeezing her neck and placing his hand over her mouth and nose. The woman told police he digitally penetrated her while he had a hand over her mouth and nose and told her he was going to kill her.
After kicking at him to get him to stop, the woman was able to scream and other residents began knocking on the door, according to the complaint. When she first opened the door, Brindle slammed it shut, but residents were able to intervene and force him out of the building, police wrote.
The woman told police that the person who knocked on the door saved her life.
Brindle is charged with two second-degree felony counts each of aggravated indecent assault and strangulation, as well as misdemeanor counts of unlawful restraint and simple assault.
He was arraigned by District Judge Don Hahn on Saturday morning and was unable to post $115,000 straight bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 20.
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