Woman under attack uses phone app to call 9-1-1

Thursday, March 7, 2019 - 15:40

— Photo from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office

Matthew R. Hoffman

BERNE — On Saturday morning, police responded to a report of a domestic dispute in which a woman was hit, choked, and thrown into a wall, police say.

Matthew R. Hoffman, 33, of Rensselaerville, was arrested on Saturday, March 2, on Long Road in Berne after his 28-year-old girlfriend was able to use an emergency-call feature on her phone to call 9-1-1 as Hoffman attacked her, according to a report from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

Based on an interview and investigation, sheriff’s deputies found that Hoffman and his girlfriend were arguing when he punched her, choked her, and threw her into a wall. The wall and other items belonging to the woman were damaged during the attack, the reports says.

The sheriff’s Emergency Medical Services department and Helderberg Ambulance responded to the incident, and the woman was taken to Albany Medical Center, the report says.

Hoffman was taken into custody and charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and also with three misdemeanors: criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, third-degree assault, and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

He was arraigned in Berne Town Court before Judge Albert Raymond and was sent to Albany County’s jail without bail.

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