A Mount Pleasant man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges following a domestic assault investigation early Saturday morning.
According to court documents, officers with the Mount Pleasant Police Department responded at approximately 2:51 a.m. on May 16 to an apartment at 709 South Main Street after receiving a 911 hang-up call.
When officers arrived, they reportedly encountered juveniles outside the apartment before making contact with a visibly pregnant woman inside the residence. Police say the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Gary Jerome Stuart Jr. of Mount Pleasant, had left the residence before officers arrived.
According to investigators, the woman became emotional while speaking with officers and stated Stuart assaulted her during an argument that escalated into a physical altercation. Court records allege Stuart struck the woman on the left side of the face, grabbed her by the face, and threw her to the ground, leaving visible marks on her face and neck area.
Authorities further allege Stuart stomped and kicked the woman in the stomach while she was on the ground. Officers documented what were described as forming marks on her stomach. A juvenile witness reportedly told investigators she heard the woman yelling for Stuart to stop kicking and stomping her stomach.
Court documents also state the woman attempted to call emergency services during the incident, but Stuart allegedly tried to take her phone to prevent the call.
The woman was privately transported from the scene for medical treatment. Police later located Stuart at the residence and took him into custody. According to court records, Stuart denied many of the allegations but admitted to grabbing the woman’s face and shoving her after she struck him.
Stuart has been charged with domestic abuse assault of a pregnant person with intent to inflict serious injury, a felony, and obstruction of emergency communications, a serious misdemeanor. A no-contact order was requested for the woman and three juveniles listed in the report. Health and Human Services was also notified of the incident.