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Florida Man Allegedly Attacks Pregnant Woman He Thinks Has Coronavirus Disease
After he was cuffed for allegedly attacking a pregnant woman, Joseph Newell allegedly began banging his head against the ground and yelling about COVID-19.
A Florida man brutally attacked a pregnant woman whom he claims has the coronavirus, police officers claimed.
Cape Coral Police officers were called to an apartment complex on Wednesday after someone reported a disturbance, according to an arrest report obtained by Oxygen.com. Cape Coral is a city in southern Florida just outside of Fort Myers.
As the responding officer approached the building, they could hear "yelling" and "thudding," the document reads. The arresting officer noted in the affidavit that authorities "could see a male straddling the victim with what appeared to be his hands or arms around the victim's neck area.”
That male was allegedly Joseph Newell, 24.
The alleged victim’s face was allegedly covered in blood and she “was crying for him to get off,” according to police. The unnamed woman is six months pregnant.
Newell, who was allegedly intoxicated, didn't halt attacking the woman when police asked him to stop, the affidavit contends. An officer had to "apply a pain compliance" to his neck "in an effort to get him to comply," according to the arrest report.
Still Newell fought back, according to the affidavit.
Even after the man was cuffed, he allegedly "began rambling about [the victim] having Covid19 and then began banging his head on the cement ground."
COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) is the disease caused by the novel strain of coronavirus responsible for an ongoing global pandemic, according to the World Health Organization.
The victim told police she was attacked for 40 minutes. It wasn't immediately clear from the affidavit if Newell has a relationship or if he even knows the alleged victim.
The arrest report notes in the charge description that the "offender knew/should have known" that the victim is pregnant.
Newell has been charged with aggravated battery. He is being held on a $15,000 bond. His head appears bloody in his mugshot.
It’s not clear if Newell has a lawyer who can speak on his behalf.
