Va. police officer accused of assaulting woman

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A Poquoson police officer is accused of assaulting a woman he once had a relationship with.

Media outlets report 41-year-old Earl McNair Jr. was arrested early Saturday and charged with assault, strangulation, abduction and preventing the victim from using her cellphone.

Newport News police spokesman Lou Thurston says officers responded to a domestic assault report just after midnight. Officials say an unidentified woman told officers that McNair had come to her Newport News home to discuss reconciling their relationship.

The woman told police McNair jumped on top of her and choked her. The woman said McNair also took her cellphone after she grabbed it.

Poquoson police spokesman Clifford Bowen says McNair has been placed on administrative leave pending the ongoing investigation.

It isn’t immediately clear whether he has an attorney.

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