Huntington man arrested after alleged choking and biting incident
A 34-year-old Huntington man was arrested Jan. 4 after police say he bit and choked a woman following an argument over a candy bar. The charges and bail details are set, and the case will return to Baker County Circuit Court next week, a development that raises local concerns about domestic violence and community safety.
A Huntington man faces a felony and two misdemeanors after deputies say he bit and choked a woman during an argument Sunday, Jan. 4. Kyle Allen Harp, 34, was arrested after a disturbance call to the Baker County Sheriff’s Office and was formally charged in Baker County Circuit Court.
Deputies received the call reporting a disturbance at a home in Huntington at about 11:47 a.m. on Jan. 4. Police arrested Harp around 1:06 p.m. that same day following an investigation that the sheriff’s office says found evidence of an alleged assault and strangulation. Prosecutors filed three counts: strangulation constituting domestic violence, a Class C felony; fourth-degree assault constituting domestic violence, a Class A misdemeanor; and harassment, a Class B misdemeanor.
Harp was arraigned Monday and remained in the Baker County jail Tuesday morning, Jan. 6, on $30,000 bail. Under the posted terms he could secure release by posting 10 percent of that amount — $3,000 — before his next court appearance, a status check hearing scheduled for Jan. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
The felony strangulation charge elevates the case beyond a typical misdemeanor assault. In practical terms, the potential legal exposure and court procedures that follow a felony charge can extend the timeline for resolution and raise the stakes for both prosecution and defense. Bail levels such as the $30,000 set in this case also carry immediate financial implications for defendants and their families; the option to post a 10 percent bond is a common mechanism to allow temporary release while proceedings continue.
For residents of Huntington and Baker County, the incident underscores how domestic disputes can quickly escalate and draw law enforcement resources. Calls that culminate in felony-level allegations often prompt heightened attention from prosecutors and can affect community perceptions of safety, especially in smaller towns where such incidents are more visible.
Anyone with information related to the incident or questions about public safety in the area should contact the Baker County Sheriff’s Office. The case will proceed through the scheduled court process, and the Jan. 14 status hearing will determine next steps in prosecution and any conditions of pretrial release.
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