Joshua Lee Thompson

PARKERSBURG — After allegedly strangling a woman to the point of unconsciousness before performing sexual acts on her, a Parkersburg man was arrested Wednesday.

Joshua Lee Thompson, 38, 1915 Spring St., Parkersburg, allegedly strangled a female victim during an argument last week, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Wood County Magistrate Court.

The victim tapped Thompson on the arm before losing consciousness — after which Thompson took off her pants without her consent and had intercourse with her despite her saying “please don’t,” the complaint said.

Following the incident, the victim was able to get to a nearby residence where she contacted law enforcement, the complaint said.

“The evidence collected corroborated the victim’s statement,” the complaint said.

Wednesday, law enforcement saw Thompson walking along 16th Street in Parkersburg and the officer noticed his rosary tattoo around his chest, the complaint said. The officer recognized the tattoo from previous interactions and he knew Thompson had felonious warrants, according to the complaint.

When the officer approached him to talk, Thompson said “(expletive) you,” and walked away, the complaint said.

Numerous verbal commands were ignored and Thompson allegedly struck the officer several times before fleeing a second time, the complaint said. Thompson then forcibly entered a detached garage on Covert Street and broke the main door to the garage in the process, according to the complaint.

Thompson is being charged with sexual assault in the second degree, strangulation, fleeing from an officer, battery of a police officer and destruction of property and was being held at North Central Regional Jail on a $350,000 surety bond.

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.