Police: Man Choked Ex Until She Blacked Out

A man greeted his ex-girlfriend who arrived at his home before a custody hearing involving their child by pulling her by her hoodie, assaulting her and choking her to the point where “she blacked out for a few seconds,” according to court records.

Michael Figueroa, 19, of 2147 Princeton Ave., near Coke Works Road, pushed the woman onto a sofa and did not let her get up, using his legs to pin her. He then choked her with his right hand. Before pinning her on the sofa, the woman told police, he punched her several times in each arm and pushed her to the ground several times, causing her to sustain bruises, the records say.

The incident occurred around noon Friday. Figueroa and the woman have one child together and were scheduled for a custody hearing in county court, the records say.

Figueroa was arraigned Saturday by District Judge Adrianne Masut on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment. He was taken to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $10,000 bail.