A manhunt in downtown Shelton Wednesday led to the arrest of a 29-year-old man on charges he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s house and seriously injured her during an assault.
The man, Jesse Smith, is due in court Thursday (April 7) to face charges of home invasion, second-degree assault, and disorderly conduct.
In a prepared statement, Detective Richard Bango said cops received a 911 call about 11:20 a.m. about a dispute in the backyard of a Howe Avenue home.
When police officers got there, Bango said, they found a 23-year-old woman “seriously injured lying on the ground.”
The woman told police that Smith, her ex, had broken into her house while wearing a bandana to disguise his face, then dragged her down the stairs and out to the backyard.
“The victim reported once in the yard, Smith struck her in the head several times and slammed her head on the ground,” Bango said.
Police said Smith fled the area after the assault.
Cops canvassed the area, using police dogs in an effort to determine where Smith went.
“After a lengthy search, Smith was located hiding in the Housatonic River,” Bango said.
Smith was being held on a $50,000 bond as of Wednesday afternoon.
Police said Smith’s ex-girlfriend was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital for treatment of “serious but non-life threatening” injuries.
