A 46-year-old Port Townsend man was arrested for second-degree assault after he allegedly strangled his wife after she said she was leaving him and taking their 8-year-old son with her.

The accusation of felony assault also included the aggravated circumstances of being an act of domestic violence that was committed within sight or sound of a minor.

The man was booked into jail on two other counts: a felony accusation of unlawful imprisonment (domestic violence - committed within sight or sound of a minor) and interfering with a report of domestic violence, a gross misdemeanor.

The Port Townsend man, who is not being identified by The Leader to protect the identity of the victims, was arrested Aug. 24.

The alleged attack occurred July 15 at the couple’s home in Port Townsend.

The woman said her husband’s behavior had been “spiraling down the last couple of months and is getting worse, including threats of suicide.”

She said her husband had a history of very controlling behavior and had been physical toward her in the past and violent with others.

The woman told deputies her husband had shoved her the night before during an argument.

When she told her husband she was going to leave him, she found out he “had drained their bank account in an attempt to keep her from leaving.”

When she began to pack up her belongings, she said her husband tore up her cardboard boxes and then tried to take her purse away.

The woman tried to text a friend, but the husband asked if she was calling 911 and took her phone away.

The woman then tried to escape into the bedroom, but said her husband followed her and would not let her leave, and made a threat involving their son, saying, “He’ll be an orphan before you take him from me.”

She told deputies she feared her husband would kill her, then himself.

The woman also told deputies that her husband wouldn’t let her go outside to smoke a cigarette, so when she opened a window he said, “I can just imagine my hands around your neck.”

When the husband went to close the window, the wife tried to escape but was grabbed around the neck, held on the ground, and choked.

She said her husband then said, “This is the end. How does it feel?”

The woman said she couldn’t breathe and lost consciousness.

When she woke up, she said her husband was standing over her, and said, “You hit your head. It didn’t happen like you think.”

The woman said she made it outside, screaming, “You tried to kill me!”

She then said her husband tried to keep her from yelling by promising she could have all the money.

The woman grabbed her son, her phone, and her dog and fled to a friend’s home.

Deputies went to the couple’s home but found the husband had left.

A warrant was issued for his arrest July 29, and he was taken into custody the morning of Aug. 24.

Bail was initially set at $100,000.

During his court appearance Aug. 25 in Jefferson County Superior Court, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Chris Ashcraft said the accused had 11 prior convictions and was a danger to the community.

The man’s arraignment was set for Friday, Sept. 3.