Man accused of battery, attempted strangulation

Police arrested a Post Falls man after he allegedly punched and choked his girlfriend Saturday in public.

Paul A. Greer is charged with domestic battery and attempted strangulation.

Police responded to the SunTree RV Park in Post Falls the afternoon of Sept. 5 after a witness reported a physical fight between a man and a woman in a grassy area of the park.

The witness stated the man had the woman in a chokehold and had punched and slapped her in the face, according to a police report. The woman was reportedly screaming for help.

Post Falls Police Officer Patrick Finan wrote in a report that when he arrived on the scene, Greer was sitting on top of a crying woman, who was later identified as his girlfriend.

Greer told police that he had not hurt the woman, but had restrained her, according to police. He also complained of pain in his arm. Finan said he heard Greer yelling at the woman.

Finan said he observed more than 25 bruises on the woman’s arms, legs and back, as well as cuts and burns, including what appeared to be cigarette burns.

She reportedly indicated that she did not know why police had arrived or how she got on the ground.

When Finan asked about her injuries, she reportedly said she "gets beat up a lot from walking.”

Finan arrested Greer at the scene and transported him to the Kootenai County jail.

The woman reportedly refused additional assistance.

A no-contact order was issued and bail was set at $150,000, according to court records.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 22.