Newton Police Department
• Zachary L. Cox, 22, of Newton, is charged with domestic abuse assault after authorities were called at 3:51 a.m. Wednesday to the 900 block of South 13th Avenue East. Officers were called following an incomplete 911 call. When they arrived, they found Cox arguing with the victim in the yard. Officers saw a cut above the victim’s eye and she said Cox had hit her. Cox said he tried to hit a wall and missed but did not mean to hit the victim. A witness said Cox was on top of the victim trying to hit her. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Patrick T. Schafer, 35, of Newton, is charged with domestic abuse assault after authorities were called at 3:57 a.m. Thursday to the 600 block of East Third Street South. Officers were called and found Schafer had committed domestic abuse assault through physical contact that did not result in a visible bodily injury to the victim. Schafer is accused of entering a bedroom where the victim was sleeping and demanding a cell phone from her. He then placed her in a choke hold that did not restrict her airflow to get the phone. The victim then bit Schafer to get him to let go. The victim was also hit in the lip during the altercation. Shafer claimed to have been hit on his head and kicked in the abdomen, with no visible injuries. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.