Honk News – A man from Pennsylvania faces serious allegations after allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman, hitting her in the abdomen and forcing her into a toilet, which resulted in her going into labor during the ordeal.
A woman was assaulted in a residence in Somerset, Pa., according to a statement released by the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, Dec. 24. Authorities reported that the event occurred on December 19.
Andrew Ashurst is confronting several assault allegations, according to the statement from the District Attorney.
According to the DA’s office, the incident originated from a verbal dispute, during which Ashurst reportedly “pushed the pregnant victim into the toilet, resulting in her hitting her head, struck her in the appendix area, dragged her around the house by her hair, and slapped her in the face with a cell phone.”
During the attack, it is claimed that Ashurst denied the woman the opportunity to contact the police as she went into labor.
Investigators reported that responding officers discovered her with multiple bruises on her back, arms, eye, cheek, and forehead. The relationship between the victim and the suspect remains uncertain at this time.
District Attorney Molly Metzgar described the allegations as “incomprehensible.”
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“As a mother, I understand the vulnerability of a woman and her unborn child and I am appalled that anyone would jeopardize the lives of these two people,” she said in her statement.
Ashurst faces serious charges including aggravated assault of an unborn child, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, simple assault, and harassment, as reported by online court records accessed by PEOPLE.
He remains in custody with bail set at $50,000. The online court records failed to provide details regarding the attorney and the plea.