Police: Man said he assaulted, choked fiancee to calm her

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police say a Kentucky man assaulted and choked his fiancee during what he said was an attempt to calm her down.

The Courier Journal reports 35-year-old Bryan Maiden has been arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault and first-degree strangulation. He’s set to be arraigned Friday. An arrest citation says Maiden told responding officers that his fiancee woke up “in a manic episode” and began hitting him.

The woman told police they two had argued and she wanted to leave their home, but Maiden stopped her. The woman said Maiden grabbed her by the neck and squeezed until she couldn’t breathe, then tried smothering her with pillows.

Maiden was treated for chest pain after being arrested. It’s unclear if he has a lawyer.