Prince William County man arrested for assaulting, choking woman holding their baby

MANASSAS, Va. - A Prince William County man has been arrested after he was wanted for allegedly punching and choking a woman while she was holding their baby daughter.

Police said 38-year-old Robert Hardy II was involved in an argument with the 35-year-old victim while driving in Prince William County early Saturday morning. During the altercation, the suspect is accused grabbing and choking her.

After they arrived at a residence on Lucasville Road in Manassas, police said Hardy pulled her to the ground by her hair, punched her in the face and choked her again while she was carrying their 6-month-old baby.

A family member witnessed the incident and tried to call police, but Hardy took the phone and damaged the device before fleeing the area, officials said. Police were eventually contacted.

The victim suffered minor injuries, but reported to police that she did lose consciousness at some point during the assault. Police said the child was not harmed.

After an arrest warrant was issued for Hardy, the Dumfries man turned himself in Wednesday at the Gar-Field police station in Woodbridge without incident, police said.

Hardy is facing charges of strangulation, child endangerment, domestic assault and battery and preventing the summoning of a law enforcement officer.