Alva Review-Courier -

An Alva man was arrested after a two domestic violence reports. Anthony James Altobella, 23, of Alva, is charged with domestic abuse – prior pattern of physical abuse, a felony. This crime is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not more than ten years or by a fine not exceeding $5,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment.

According to court records, on Thursday, July 4, at 5:53 a.m. Alva Police Officer Sean Farris was dispatched to the 800 block of Maple Street for a domestic assault and battery report. The victim had fled across the street where she sought help from neighbors.

When Farris arrived he talked with Keaton Zahorsky, of the residents, who said Anthony James Altobella had assaulted and battered Meghan Webb, his girlfriend. Zahorsky implied knowledge of several previous occurrences of domestic assault and battery by Altobella against Webb. He took Farris inside to meet with Webb who was sitting at the kitchen table.

According to Farris’ affidavit, Webb was visibly upset with trembling hands and voice. She had been crying. She said Altobella had started a fight with her again. She said Altobella woke her from sleep approximately 10 minutes before Farris arrived. She said he was screaming, yelling and threatening her.

Webb said she attempted to leave the residence to seek help when Altobella grabbed her by the back of her head and her hair and forcefully pulled her back inside and also took her cellphone. Webb managed to flee through the front door of the house shortly after. She fled across the street where Zahorsky was getting into his company vehicle to go to work. She knocked on the driver’s side window and asked for help. Zahorsky took her inside the house, secured the door and called 911.

Webb said this was not the first time Altobella had been verbally or physically violent to her. Zahorsky and his finance Samantha Hada who also lives there corroborated Webb’s statements.

A criminal history of Altobella shows him to have a previous arrest in Woods County for domestic assault and battery against a previous girlfriend. Altobella fled the scene before Farris’ arrival.

At approximately 7:50 a.m. on July 5, Farris was again dispatched to the Altobella residence for a possible domestic in progress, reported by neighbors who heard screaming and yelling from the house.

Altobella answered the door after several knocks, and he was placed under arrest.