Missoula police responded to a call of concern early Wednesday morning at around 1:56 a.m. Missoula Police Public Information officer Travis Welsh says that when police arrived, they found that a couple had been in a recent argument.

"Officers were called to a residence in the 1000 block of Stoddard street," said Missoula Police Public Information officer Travis Welsh. "They encountered a male and female in the residence who both agreed they had been arguing, however, the female, when speaking to an officer away from the male, did state that there had been some physical violence."

The female, said that the argument escalated from tossing furniture to physical abuse.

"There was pushing and shoving over furniture, and also, she reported that she had been strangled. It was enough that the complainant felt that her circulation had been temporarily inhibited and she felt like she couldn't swallow very well afterward. The male, 34-year-old Donald Hathaway was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault."

The charge of Aggravated Assault is used when one causes "Permanent or Life Threatening Injury." The charge is used frequently in Missoula in cases involving strangulation because of the extremely dangerous nature and long-term harm that can arise because of that type of attack.

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