A verbal argument quickly turned violent, police say. A Middletown man is accused of assaulting, strangling, restraining movement and breaking his girlfriend’s cellphone as the couple drove in their car in Orange County.

Resuan A. Brunson, 32, of Middletown was involved in a verbal argument with his girlfriend that quickly turned into a physical altercation while the couple drove in the Town of Hamptonburgh, officials say. An investigation by State Police from Montgomery led to the allegations that Brunson assaulted his girlfriend, choked her, restrained her movement and damaged her cellphone. Police did not release what caused the agrument.

Brunson was charged with second-degree strangulation, a class D felony, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, third-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief, all class A misdemeanors.

Brunson was arraigned in Town of Hamptonburgh Court and remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to the Town of Hamptonburgh Court on Oct. 26.

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