A Cedartown man faces multiple felony charges after authorities say he assaulted a woman during a violent domestic dispute earlier this week.
According to a report from the Polk County Police Department, officers were dispatched to a home on Johnsons Circle around 5 a.m. on October 12 in reference to a heated domestic situation. When officers arrived, they found a visibly upset woman with several injuries, including bruising, abrasions and swelling to her face and body.
Police said the suspect, identified as 50-year-old Charles Randal Dingler of Cedartown, was not at the scene when officers arrived, though his truck was located in the backyard. Officers also found a ladder leaning against a fence and believe Dingler may have used it to flee into the nearby woods.
According to the police report, the victim told officers the incident began during an argument in the bedroom when Dingler allegedly became agitated, loaded a gun, and threatened to kill her if he went back to jail. She said he then choked her, struck her multiple times, and prevented her from leaving or calling for help.
The victim was able to contact 911 using an old phone after Dingler allegedly took her main phone to stop her from calling for help. EMS responded and urged her to seek medical attention, but she declined.
Police later obtained warrants for Dingler on charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, false imprisonment, battery, and obstruction of a person making an emergency call — all under the Family Violence Act.
