A city man was arrested Wednesday by warrants accusing him of twice assaulting his 23-year-old girlfriend last year.
The first incident allegedly occurred in August when the accused, Andre Bjorntzen, got into a confrontation with the woman.
Police spokesman Lt. Praveen John said the couple was visiting the girlriend’s aunt at the aunt’s home, and at some point Bjorntzen slapped a sandwich out of his girlfriend's hand.
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They then returned to Suncrest Road where he allegedly locked the front door, then grabbed the woman’s neck and repeatedly smacked her in the
face.
John said Bjorntzen pulled the woman to the ground and then attempted
to lock her in a closet. He said the woman fought him off, grabbed her cell phone and ran out the front door, but Bjorntzen dragged her back inside.
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He said residents across the street witnessed what was occurring and were able to pull the woman out of the house.
At the same time a car stopped in front of the house, which Bjorntzen entered. It then drove away, John said.
The second incident allegedly occurred Dec. 14, when Bjorntzen, witnesses told police, violently prevented his girlfriend from exiting a car they were in.
Witnesses allegedly told police Bjorntzen was in the drivers’ seat and the woman was in the front passenger seat screaming for help.
They said Bjorntzen had a forceful grip on her and repeatedly struck her.
The car eventually drove off with the woman still inside.
Based on the car’s registration, police were able to locate the woman alone in the car in East Norwalk. The officers reported she started crying, but was very evasive when questioned about what had occurred.
They reported she had a cut and a scape mark above her right eye, but no other apparent injuries.
She told them she had dropped off Bjorntzen by the Straffolino Bridge and did not where he was going.
John said the woman refused to provide a written statement of what occurred.
Bjorntzen, 30, resides at 21 St. John St.
The warrant for the first incident charges him with third-degree assault, third-degree strangulation, second-degree unlawful restraint, and criminal violation of a protective order.
Bjorntzen was held on a court set bond of $20,000.
The second warrant charges him with first-degree kidnapping, third-degree assault and criminal violation of a protective order.
The court set bond on the warrant was $40,000.
Bjorntzen was schedule to be arraigned Thursday in state Superior Court in Norwalk.
