Pregnant woman: boyfriend strangled me

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An Austin woman, who is 24 weeks pregnant, says her boyfriend of one year, Marlin Shields, 36, strangled her following an argument at their apartment.  She said while pinning her to the ground, he jammed his left knee into her stomach.

It happened early Friday morning off Golden Meadow Drive.

Police said the woman called 911 and they found her holding an empty baby carriage and crying a few blocks from her home.

The woman told police she accused her boyfriend of lying, the argument escalated, and Shields pushed her to the ground and choked her with one hand, a court affidavit states.

The affidavit goes on to state that the victim never lost consciousness, but could not breath for about 20 seconds.

The victim said she bit Marlin's arm in an attempt to get him off her when he jammed his knee into her stomach. 

According to the court affidavit, the woman was able to call 911, but not before Shields tried to wrestle the phone from her hands. 

She eventually got a hold of her cell phone, dialed 911 again, threw the phone over a balcony and then jumped over the balcony to get  to safety, the affidavit states.

Police said the woman did have redness around her neck and was complaining of pain in her stomach when they got to the home.

Shield's is the baby's father.

He is now facing a third degree assault by strangulation charge and one charge of interfering with an emergency call.

The pregnant woman's condition is unknown.