Falls Man charged with Strangulation & Assault, Says Victim Made Up Story

A Falls Township man was charged last week with strangulating his ex-girlfriend during an argument.

David Stumpf, 48 of Fairless Hills faces felony strangulation, misdemeanor simple assault, and possession of drug paraphernalia charges for an alleged attack on his ex-girlfriend.

Police were called to Lakeview Terrace Apartments around 8:30 on January 31 for a reported domestic dispute called in by the victim. Police, in court documents, said they observed Stumpf sitting on a bench in the complex courtyard when they arrived about 150 yards away from the apartment where the incident occurred.

Police say the woman victim told them she had verbal argument about an apartment they share, a potential eviction proceeding, and Stumpf’s current girlfriend. She alleged Stumpf held her down on the floor. choking her saying he wants her “to die” and that he was “going to kill her,” court records show.

The woman told police she was able to break away, running into the bathroom calling 911, telling dispatchers he was banging on the bathroom door trying to get in, according to the criminal complaint.

Police say, in court documents, that upon hearing the victim was on the phone with 911 Stumpf left the apartment. The responding officer requested additional units to assist by locating Stumpf  in the  courtyard area, where he was last seen Responding officers found the suspect at the CVS store across the street from the bench he was sitting on when police arrived, court records say.

Meanwhile, the first responding officer continued with his interview of the victim, observing “red marks on both sides of the victims said, nothing she was visibly crying and appeared anxious.  She told police she was “afraid of him.”

Stumpf told police that the victim has mental health issues and denied her account and alleged she made the story up and probable made the marks on her neck by herself. He also denied the allegation he had an argument with the victim, and left the apartment 10 minutes before police were called.

Stumpf said he had no idea why she was calling the police, so he left.

Stumpf was jailed on 10 percent of $25,000 bail and remains incarcerated at Bucks County Correctional Institution.

He is scheduled to appear before District Justice Vislosky on February 12.