Casper Man Arrested for Allegedly Choking, Beating Pregnant Woman

A homeless man was arrested Friday afternoon after police reportedly found him holding a woman in a headlock and punching her in the face.

Christopher Michael Melofsky, 33, was booked on an aggravated assault charge. Should he be formally accused and convicted of that charge, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Court documents say a woman called police shortly before 12:20 p.m. Friday to report a man and a woman fighting near an address on West Collins.

When officers arrived, they saw the victim sitting on a short cement wall while Melofsky was bent over the top of her, reportedly holding the victim in a headlock with his left arm and punching her in the face with his right hand.

Melofsky immediately sat down on the wall next to the victim once he saw the officers. He reportedly ignored them when they told him to come over to them.

An officer took Melofsky to the ground and handcuffed him, according to the affidavit.

Melofsky later told officers he knew the victim was five to six months pregnant, court documents say. He allegedly said he and the victim had been dating for a year and a half to two years.

Charging documents say Melofsky denied any physical abuse taking place.

The victim told officers that she and Melofsky were walking to a friend's house when she stopped to rest in the parking lot due to being six months pregnant.

She reportedly said that Melofsky was "just putting his arm around her neck to talk to her," charging documents say. The victim also said she and Melofsky were having a bad day.

The victim also denied any argument took place. She said Melofsky knew she was pregnant.

The woman who called police reportedly told officers that she saw the victim clinging to a pole while Melofsky restrained her in a headlock and punched her in the face. The pair seemed to be fighting over an unknown object which the victim was holding away from Melofsky, the woman said.

Security video shows Melofsky punching the victim while keeping her in a headlock, according to the affidavit.

Court documents say the victim told officers she was apprehensive to give them her name because of a warrant for her arrest. After the incident, she was arrested on a warrant for a probation violation.