A 54-year-old man was arrested after witnesses intervened when they saw him assaulting and strangling a pregnant woman in Fresno, police told GV Wire.

Fresno police officers were dispatched Tuesday to the area of Fresno and B streets after witnesses called 911 to report a man physically assaulting a woman.

Police said the witnesses stopped to help the woman and saw the man, later identified as Wayne Metley, on top of her, slamming her into the sidewalk and strangling her.

The witnesses pulled Metley away from the woman, according to police. As Metley walked away, the woman told the witnesses that he was the father of her child and that she was currently pregnant.

Fresno police officers and California Highway Patrol officers arrived and detained a man matching the description provided by witnesses. Police said he was identified as Metley through a California driver’s license in his possession.

Metley was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail.

Jail records list felony charges of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, and assault likely to cause great bodily injury.

The jail records also list a misdemeanor battery charge involving a non-cohabitant.

His total bail is set at $100,000.

How to Get Help

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, help is available at the Marjaree Mason Center 24-Hour Crisis Helpline, (559) 233-HELP, or by calling 1-(800)-799-SAFE.

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