Police accuse man of attempting to rape, strangle massage therapist in Butler Township
A Maryland man is accused of strangling and attempting to rape a woman during a massage in Butler Township on Tuesday, May 30.
David V. McDonald, 62, of Baltimore, was arrested Wednesday, May 31, and placed in Butler County Prison after he turned himself in. He remains in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Township police charged McDonald with felonies rape, aggravated assault and strangulation, and misdemeanors indecent assault by forcible compulsion and misdemeanor simple assault in connection to the incident.
Police said they responded at 9:01 p.m. Tuesday to Asia Bodywork, a massage therapy business on New Castle Road, for reports of an assault of an employee.
Through interviews and viewing of surveillance footage, police said it was determined that a man entered the building and requested an hourlong massage at 8:19 p.m. The man was later identified as McDonald.
The employee told police she began the massage, which is conducted while customers are wearing only a towel, and asked McDonald if it was “OK.”
McDonald then grabbed the employee’s wrist, forced her onto the massage table and there was a struggle, according to the affidavit.
The employee said McDonald was attempting to touch her inappropriately before she fled the room.
McDonald, who was nude, pursued the employee, then returned to the massage room, got dressed and left around 8:38 p.m., according to the affidavit.
Two minutes later, police said McDonald reentered the business and attempted to force the employee back to the massage room.
According to police, surveillance footage showed the struggle, where McDonald threw the employee to the ground and attempted to take off her pants. McDonald then dragged the employee by the hair toward the massage room, but she resisted.
Throughout the assault, the employee told police McDonald inappropriately touched her and choked her with his forearm and hands around her neck.
Police said the employee was able to flee.
The affidavit indicated that McDonald turned himself in at the Butler Township station around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
McDonald’s preliminary hearing before District Judge Kevin O’Donnell is scheduled for Thursday, June 8.
