Bellefonte man charged with felony strangulation

A Bellefonte man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from an alleged altercation in early June.

According to the criminal complaint filed by state police at Rockview, a trooper was dispatched Monday to the 200 block of School House Drive in Marion Township for a reported domestic dispute. The female resident at the address related a report of a physical altercation that had reportedly occurred on June 5.

The woman told the trooper that Andrew M. Tenalio, 27, had come to the residence to see his two children at about 11:30 p.m., police said. He reportedly parked his truck at a neighboring residence as he did not have permission to be on the property.

The woman advised Tenalio he needed to leave, police said, but he requested a box of his belongings first. The woman reportedly took her children into the residence and brought the box out, placing it across the “No Trespassing” sign on the property.

When she refused to speak further with Tenalio, a verbal altercation ensued, police said. The altercation turned physical when Tenalio allegedly crossed the sign and grabbed the woman by her shoulders, pulling her across the property line.

He pushed the woman to the ground, police said, and would not let her get back up, hitting her with his fist and knee. When she was able to get free and run toward the house, he reportedly grabbed the hood of her coat and pulled her back across the property line.

Tenalio dragged the woman by the hood, police said, cutting off her ability to breathe. She was reportedly “able to get free and sprinted to the house.”

Tenalio had been advised numerous times he was not welcome on the property, police said.

He was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, according to court documents, and charged with a felony count of strangulation, misdemeanor charges of simple assault and defiant trespassing and a summary count of harassment. Tenalio is free on $25,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is slated for July 5.

This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Bellefonte man charged with felony strangulation."