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A Knoxville man has been arrested for felony assault along with first degree harassment and criminal mischief. 

According to court records, on December 21st at 6:13 pm, Knoxville Officers were dispatched to a residence for a report of a domestic abuse assault that had occurred earlier in the day. Upon arrival an officer made contact with a female victim in which she informed him that was in a relationship with 37-year-old Shane Sylvester and that he had come over to her residence at approximately 3:00 pm; however, she did not hear him knock on the door. In the criminal complaint the victim stated she realized that Sylvester had been waiting outside her residence for her and that Sylvester was upset it took her this long to realize he was outside. The victim stated the two went for a drive before returning to the parking lot of her residence at approximately 4:30 pm.

While the two were still in the vehicle in the parking lot, the victim stated Sylvester reached over and proceeded to grab her around her throat with both hands while simultaneously calling her an explicit name. The victim stated that while Sylvester had a hold of her throat, she could not breathe and that the grip on her throat caused her to feel pain. A photograph was taken which displayed a fresh, large red mark on the victim’s left side of her neck. Sylvester also allegedly threatened to kill the victim’s male roommate and he also allegedly caused $300-$750 of damage to the windshield of the vehicle where the alleged assault occurred. 

Sylvester was later located at a residence out in the county and while admitting to being in the vehicle with the female, he denied that anything physical happened between the two. Sylvester is charged with domestic assault impeding air flow bodily injury, a Class D Felony, and first degree harassment and fourth degree criminal mischief which are misdemeanors. Sylvester is being held in the Marion County Jail.