A Walnutport man is facing charges after a woman reported he dragged her from the neighbor’s porch and tried to strangle her.

Lehigh Township police in Northampton County were dispatched to a residence along White Pine Run for a disturbance at 10:54 p.m. on Saturday. On scene officers spoke to a couple who said they heard a woman banging on the door of their home and screaming for help. Then they heard the woman say, “No, no don’t do it.” Afterwards there was silence.

The couple said they went outside. No one was there but they found a box of cigarettes tubes on their front porch, a purse and a bag in their yard. Police examined the purse and found the name of a woman and multiple medical cards. Police then checked the area and found a pair of slippers, a glass cup, a can of soda and a notebook leading to another home along White Pine Drive.

A check of the name found in the purse indicated she had a Tamaqua address. Police learned that the woman and a Blaine Kirchner, 56, lived at the residence in question. Police entered the home and found the woman and Kirchner in an attic area. Kirchner was laying on top of the female, who was wrapped in a blanket.

Kirchner was then placed in custody. Police took a statement from the woman, as she was receiving medical treatment from an EMS unit called to the scene. She had visible injuries including bleeding from her mouth and ears. She had significant amount of fresh and dry blood on her teeth, tongue and lip, police said. Her lower lip was swollen.

She told police Kirchner ran after her when she went to the neighbors for help and dragged her back to the house by her armpits. Lauer said he was strangling her and she pretended to pass out for him to let go of her neck.

Kirchner denied assaulting the woman. He was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment.