HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – An Evansville man was arrested after authorities say he strangled a woman trying to leave his home and sexually assaulted her.

According to an affidavit, officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of Walnut Lane Thursday after a caller reported a man was holding her friend hostage. Officers arriving at the scene say they made contact with Cain Patton, 24, who allegedly said he did not know why officers kept being called to the address or who was calling.

Police say they also spoke to a woman inside the home who said she was waiting for her friend to pick her up. Police say that before leaving the scene, the caller arrived and showed a text message between her and the woman inside the home that indicated an assault had occurred the night before. After seeing the message, police re-entered the home to speak to Patton and the woman separately.

While speaking with the two, officers say they learned that Patton and the woman had started talking to each other on Snapchat a week ago and had met in person for the first time the night before. The woman initially said Patton didn’t get physical, but she was worried about leaving. She claimed Patton said he “had no choice” to leave, but she wasn’t sure if he meant it.

After another officer arrived on the scene, the woman reported that after Patton said she wasn’t leaving, he choked her to the point she couldn’t breathe, hit the back of her head and sexually penetrated her. She also told officers that Patton held a knife to her throat while they were in the home.

Patton was arrested and charged with rape, confinement, strangulation, intimidation with a deadly weapon and battery. He is being held without bond.

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