Alleged bear killer accused of strangling girlfriend three times after accusing her of contacting ex

Just months after he was accused of unlawfully killing a black bear on his property, an Armstrong Township, Pennsylvania, man now faces charges of domestic abuse and strangulation after allegedly attacking his girlfriend .

The police were called to a home in the 100 block of Bennardi Development Road in Armstrong, which is just south of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 3 after reports of a domestic disturbance at the home — an argument had reportedly turned violent at the address.

When the police arrived, they found Shawn Paul Zimmerman and his injured girlfriend, who allegedly had scratches and bruises on her left arm as well as spots of blood on her left leg and her coat.

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Zimmerman, 62, had just gotten back from drinking at a bar, a police affidavit obtained by the Williamsport Sun-Gazette said. He immediately grabbed his girlfriend's phone and started going through it.

He then accused her of communicating with her ex, the police said, and then struck her multiple times after she tried to retrieve the device from him. Then, he strangled her three times so that she couldn't breathe, covering her mouth with his hand, too, it was reported.

Zimmerman was reportedly arraigned on charges of strangulation, harassment and simple assault, and bail was set at $10,000 by District Judge Christian Frey, it was reported. He paid it and was released, but he was given a "no firearms provision" given his fiasco with the black bear months prior.

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The Sun-Gazette reported that Zimmerman tussled with police officers and grew irate after they came to investigate him for illicitly slaughtering a black bear on his property.

Zimmerman's defense attorney argued, however, that Zimmerman has a right to have firearms in his home. Assistant District Attorney Jessica Feese argued, however, that he is accused of crimes in which firearms are involved as she added that the man got into a physical altercation with the police.

The suspect was allowed to keep the gun in title only but prohibited from keeping them at his home while he's out on bail, District Judge William Solomon ruled.

Other charges Zimmerman has incurred include resisting arrest, violating rules and regulations of the PA Game Commission, taking of game or wildlife, unlawful killing of wildlife, interfering with an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.