Dec 2, 2017 2 min read

A Carroll Township man was arrested Thursday by township police after he allegedly choked his wife and threatened to kill her during a confrontation at their home last month.

Walter Herbert Behanna, 63, of 282 Shannon Road, Monongahela, is charged with strangulation, terroristic threats and simple assault in connection with the Nov. 17 incident. He was initially charged with threatening her, but those charges were withdrawn after police learned of the alleged assault.

Police responded after getting a call from Behanna’s brother-in-law, the brother of the alleged victim. The brother-in-law told police his sister and Behanna got into an argument. Behanna allegedly told her if she left and returned, he would shoot her. The brother-in-law became concerned and called police.

When police arrived at Behanna’s home, they said he initially refused to let officers inside the residence but then opened the door. When officers told him why they were there, he reportedly told officers he was tired of his wife and her abuse. Behanna also allegedly told police if she returned, he was going to shoot her and he needed to put her out of her misery.

On Nov. 21, the alleged victim told police Nov. 16 she went to visit her aunt at a medical facility. When she returned, she said Behanna started making accusations about her. She told police he was intoxicated and had difficulty getting off the couch.

Once he was off the couch, Behanna allegedly started threatening her, then grabbed her by the neck and started choking her. She was able to get away and went to stay with a relative, police said.

Behanna was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins and placed in Washington County jail on $100,000 bond. He is scheduled for a Dec. 14 preliminary hearing before Hopkins.