A Kunkletown man has been charged by state police with assaulting his girlfriend.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Charles Inserra of the Lehighton barracks in the case against Jeffrey Strohl:

At 1:31 p.m. Oct. 22 troopers Anna Desousa, Theodore Wilson and Inserra were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Sterner Run Road, Polk Township, for the report of a physical altercation/domestic dispute.

The woman told police that she and her boyfriend, identified as Strohl, 38, had been involved in an argument and Strohl grew agitated and it appeared as if he might strike her.

Strohl said that the woman grabbed her container of pepper spray to prepare to defend herself.

The woman said that Strohl then began punching her in the head and face.

The woman had signs of recent bleeding and swelling and cuts to her nose and mouth.

She said that she was able to use her pepper spray to force Strohl to stop attacking her. She said that Strohl then left the residence.

The woman was treated on the scene by Lehigh Valley Ambulance personnel and then transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Pocono, for further evaluation.

Strohl reported side effects of the pepper spray, which struck his face.

Palmerton Ambulance personnel examined him and deemed to be uninjured by the incident.

He faces charges of simple assault and harassment,

Strohl is currently jailed in the Monroe County Correctional Facility in lieu of $40,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville is scheduled forThursday.