‘Severe assault;’ Man attacks woman, holding her hostage in Springfield, police say

SPRINGFILED — A man is facing charges after police say he beat a woman, threatened to kill her, and tied her up, preventing her from leaving a home in Springfield late last month.

Ashanti Cherry, 47, was indicted by a Clark County grand jury on counts of kidnapping, felonious assault, abduction, strangulation, having weapons while under disability, and tampering with evidence Tuesday, according to Clark County Common Pleas Court records.

>> Body cam video shows frightening moments after Miami Co. chase ends in crash

The charges stem from an alleged violent attack that was outlined in Clark County Municipal Court records filed last week.

In court documents, Springfield police say Cherry hit and pistol-whipped a woman, strangled her with a chord, hit her in the head at least three times with a glass liquor bottle, pointed a gun at her, and threatened to kill her.

As for why this happened, police wrote in a probable cause affidavit that Cherry “accused her of snitching on him to get a reduced sentence for her brother who is going to prison.” But police told News Center 7′s John Bedell Wednesday that while the victim’s brother was sentenced recently, that accusation was only something Cherry thought and was not based in reality.

“I’m not sure why he had that perception, but that was not the case,” Springfield Police Sergeant James Byron said.

Police said they showed up at the trailer where the woman was being held on Sept. 30 after an anonymous tipster called to say a woman had been badly beaten inside.

>> Area rescue owner criminally charged after 30 dogs found dead in freezers, 90 seized from facility

“Officers responded, knocked on the door of this trailer. Mr. Cherry answered and while they were conversing with him, three females exited the trailer, and one of them had been severely assaulted,” Bryon explained on News Center 7 at 6 pm.

Officers said all four people inside the trailer were “acquaintances.”

Medics took the victim to the hospital. Byron said this all could have ended much worse if not for that anonymous tipster.

“There’s no doubt that tipster that gave us the information – this was a severe assault, life-threatening injuries. We believe this tipster definitely saved our victim’s life,” Bryon said.

Cherry was arrested and will be arraigned on charges on Oct. 13.

© 2023 Cox Media Group