Deputies: Dunedin Man Chokes Woman, Holds her Captive

A Dunedin man allegedly punched and strangled a woman, then held her captive until she escaped, authorities report.

Mark Anthony Newman, 45, of the 1300 block of Killie Court, was arrested early Tuesday, Jan. 15, and charged with multiple felonies.

Newman, a Coca-Cola employee, was under the influence of alcohol when he allegedly threw a 20-pound wooden butcher's block at a woman during an argument that turned violent shortly before 3 a.m., Pinellas County Sheriff's arrest records report.

When the woman attempted to leave the house, Newman reportedly grabbed her neck, choking her for about 45 seconds against the kitchen wall and telling her that he was going to kill her, according to arrest records. Newman then allegedly punched the woman in the face multiple times.

When the woman attempted to escape from a bedroom window, Newman is alleged to have physically restrained her. He told her, "you're not going anywhere," arrest records say.

The woman attempted to leave several minutes later, and he again restrained her, punching her in the eye and holding her inside the household against her will, according to arrest records.

The woman was able to escape two hours later while Newman used the bathroom.

She suffered a black eye with swelling, a red swollen nose and red swelling around the neck and upper chest, arrest records say.

Newman was arrested and charged with felony false imprisonment, felony battery by strangulation and felony aggravated domestic assault. 

Newman is in custody at Pinellas County Jail. He is awaiting trial without bond, according to arrest records. 

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