Pittsburgh man accused of choking 4-month-old daughter, dragging wife across floor

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh man was arrested early Saturday after police said he assaulted his wife, dragged her across the floor and then choked his 4-month-old daughter.

According to a criminal complaint, police were initially called to Raymond Russ’ home on Windgap Avenue around 5 a.m. because his wife told 911 dispatchers that he threw her to the ground had locked himself inside a bedroom with their 4-month-old.

Police said it started with an argument between the couple and quickly escalated. Russ, 40, allegedly dragged his wife across the floor, causing scrapes and bruises to her body -- and he held her down, choking her.

When officers got to the home, they told Russ to put his daughter down multiple times, but he refused and tightened his grip on her.

According to the criminal complaint, Russ continued to squeeze the child so tightly that “she stopped crying and stopped making noises.” Officers then believed the baby wasn’t breathing, so they used a Taser on him to remove the 4-month-old from his grip.

Russ is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault, strangulation, and endangering the welfare of a child. He is out of jail after posting bond while he awaits a preliminary hearing.

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