An Allentown man who allegedly choked his girlfriend during a physical altercation is scheduled to appear in court.

Derick Hymans, 26, faces charges on one count each of strangulation, former convict not to own firearm, simple assault and firearms not to be carried without a license.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Shawn Leadbetter of the Palmerton Police Department:

Leadbetter was dispatched to the 200 block of Alley E in the borough at 8:37 a.m. Sept. 4 for a physical domestic involving a man and a woman in which the man ripped the woman outside “by the neck.”

Leadbetter observed the victim and caller standing outside of the detached garage located in Alley E.

The victim, who was visibly upset and shaken, said that her boyfriend, Hymans, physically assaulted her by grabbing her by the neck, squeezing and throwing her out of the garage.

Leadbetter and Sgt. Christopher Ritter observed ligature marks on the back of the victim’s neck consistent with someone’s hand grabbing the neck.

The victim provided officers with information that Hymans barricaded himself inside the garage after the assault.

Officers then surrounded the perimeter of the garage and repeated verbal commands to have Hymans exit the garage, but Hymans refused verbal commands and continued to barricade himself in.

Officers were able to get a key from the landlord to open the garage and attempt to take Hymans in custody.

As Leadbetter opened the left garage door, Ritter, Detective Kevin Buck and Leadbetter cleared the interior. Ritter and Leadbetter observed Hymans sitting in the driver’s side of a vehicle that was parked inside the garage.

Officers ordered Hymans to get out of the vehicle, at which time he consented and was taken into custody with no further incident.

A safety search of Hymans, along with the inside of the vehicle within his reach yielded a 9 mm Norinco semi-automatic handgun with the magazine fully loaded and placed underneath the driver seat of the vehicle.

A criminal history of Hymans found that he is a felon and has no concealed carry permit.

Hymans’ bail was set at $50,000 straight. He is free after posting bail.

Hymans is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Wednesday before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.