A Merrillville man is charged with strangling a pregnant woman, documents allege.
Emanuel Pugh, 26, was charged Tuesday with strangulation, two counts of domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman, two counts of criminal confinement, and one count of domestic battery.
He is already in custody for other cases, held without bail.
The victim told police they have a 6-year-old daughter, and she was 15 weeks pregnant when Pugh attacked her in October during an argument. She put a hand over his mouth to stop him from spitting on her, then he choked her, records allege.
She decided to report his behavior because it was “escalating” to yelling and throwing things in front of their child, the woman said.
Pugh later texted her that he didn’t want to go to jail and didn’t care if she was pregnant, sick, skinny or frail, records show. It was her fault for “attacking him,” the affidavit states.
In another incident on Nov. 24, she alleged Pugh slapped her after she took his hand to cover his mouth after he was disrespectful to her. She slapped him back. He slapped her again. He physically restrained her, while she kicked and tried to scratch him. He then hit her in the head with a NyQuill bottle.
Pugh is facing other charges for allegedly attacking and sexually assaulting two sex workers in January 2024.
In May 2023, Pugh was charged after threatening and pressing a gun to a woman’s head. A SWAT team was called.
mcolias@post-trib.com