ANSON — An Anson man with a criminal history of domestic violence is facing charges in connection with an alleged domestic assault, during which he reportedly strangled the victim to the point she passed out multiple times, police said.
Brian Cloutier, 61, was arrested late Wednesday, following the alleged incident.
Cloutier faces charges of Class A domestic violence elevated aggravated assault, Class A kidnapping, Class C domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and Class D domestic violence assault, Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster wrote in a statement issued Friday afternoon.
Brian Cloutier Somerset County Jail photo
Lancaster announced the charges after Cloutier made his initial court appearance Friday at Somerset County Unified Criminal Court in Skowhegan. Cloutier’s bail was set at $25,000 cash, according to court records.
Cloutier is being held at the Somerset County Jail in East Madison, according to jail records. As of Monday, he had yet to be indicted on the Class A and Class C charges, and had not entered a plea.
If Cloutier were to post bail, the conditions of his release would include he not have contact with the alleged victim or the neighbors who reported the alleged incident, court records show. Cloutier is also prohibited from consuming alcohol, because his drinking reportedly played a role in the alleged assault.
According to an affidavit filed in court by Deputy Kehl Chadwick of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged victim told police that Cloutier had repeatedly strangled her with a belt, before she was able to escape the Hall Street residence.
The alleged victim said that when she would pass out due to a lack of oxygen, Cloutier would throw cold water onto her face to revive her. He would then continue to strangle and beat her, Chadwick wrote in the affidavit. The victim reportedly believed Cloutier was trying to kill her.
The Morning Sentinel does identify the victims of domestic violence or other violent crimes without their consent.
The alleged incident began as a domestic dispute, and Cloutier was drinking alcohol and had become aggressive, the alleged victim told police.
Cloutier, however, told police the alleged victim was not taking medication for attention deficit disorder and was “going crazy.”
The alleged victim told investigators from the Sheriff’s Office that she was able to escape Cloutier by throwing herself down a staircase and out a window, according to the affidavit. The alleged victim then went to a neighbor’s house to seek help.
The neighbor reported the alleged incident to police, according to the affidavit. Inside the neighbor’s house, sheriff’s deputies, who responded at about 11 p.m. Wednesday, found the alleged victim with injuries and dried blood on her face, according to the affidavit.
A later evaluation at Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan found further evidence of injury from strangulation and other injuries, including possible broken bones, Chadwick wrote in the affidavit.
Cloutier was arrested without incident and taken to the Somerset County Jail, according to the affidavit.
County dispatchers informed sheriff’s deputies that Cloutier faced other charges of domestic violence assault and reckless conduct in 2013, Chadwick wrote. Because the charges were more than 10 years old, the Class D domestic violence was not considered elevated, according to Chadwick.
Chadwick wrote he had probable cause for the charge of domestic violence elevated aggravated assault because of “severe strangulation.”
Cloutier was charged with kidnapping because of his “terroristic intent to continue to harm (the alleged victim) and restraining her from leaving the residence,” the affidavit says.
Cloutier’s next court is scheduled for April 10 in Skowhegan, according to Lancaster.
Cloutier has been assigned a court-appointed lawyer.
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