Police: Man choked ex-girlfriend

COEUR d’ALENE — A man is in jail after police said he choked his ex-girlfriend.

Shane D. Haugen, 29, is charged with attempted strangulation, a felony.

The charge stems from last October, when a woman who identified herself as Haugen’s ex-girlfriend told police that, prior to the breakup, Haugen had held her down and choked her.

The incident reportedly occurred in late August or early September 2019, according to court documents. The woman told police that Haugen sat on top of her, put both hands around her throat and slammed her head into the floor multiple times.

Haugen allegedly covered her mouth and nose with his hand so that she couldn’t breathe.

Though the woman told police that she had photos of bruising after the incident, she later said her phone “did a factory reset on itself” and all data stored on her phone was lost, according to court documents.

Charges were filed against Haugen in April of this year and a summons was issued.

Haugen reportedly failed to appear in court in July, after which a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Police arrested Haugen last Thursday.

Judge Ross Pittman ordered Friday that Haugen be held on $2,000 bail.