Grindstone man wanted for assault in California Borough
A warrant has been issued for a Grindstone man after he allegedly strangled and suffocated a woman in California Borough and fled twice from police.
Over the weekend, California Borough Police filed charges against Edger Franklin Yoders II, 23, including strangulation, aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, simple assault and other similar charges including a drug possession charge before Washington County Magisterial District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were dispatched to a residence along Orchard Street in California at 3:08 p.m. Friday for a report of theft and an altercation.
Police were given Yoders’ name and description and were told that another officer was chasing Yoders in a wooded area off of Edwards Street. Police said Yoders escaped their custody after leaping off a roughly 35-foot-deep ravine.
During that pursuit, police said, Yoders discarded a camouflage backpack allegedly containing marijuana, a weighing scale and a bottle of urine.
California University police officers also tried to make contact with Yoders, but he fled on foot into a wooded area where he was able to escape capture.
While at the second location along Knob Road, police spoke with Amanda Gudel, who told them that she and Yoders were in a verbal altercation when Yoders allegedly grabbed her arms as she started screaming for him to “stop touching me, get off me” and put his hand over her face and nose to impede her breathing.
Gudel told police she defended herself by “clawing at him,” but Yoders responded by putting a pillow over her face in an alleged trying to suffocate her. Police said Gudel gouged at his eye until he let her go.
Police observed bruises and cuts on Gudel’s arms, face, chest and shoulder and noted that Yoders also allegedly violated a protection-from-abuse order filed by Gudel.
An arrest warrant was issued for Yoders.