Man Arrested After Allegedly Assaulting Woman, Stealing Car

A man was jailed after a number of alleged violent incidents last Saturday, which led to investigations in two municipalities.

Christopher Helton Tompkins, 34, was arrested without incident and denied the allegations when police nabbed him Saturday night, according to court papers.

Bristol Borough police responded to a store on Commerce Circle at 6:49 p.m. Saturday following reports of a stolen vehicle.

A female employee told an officer that Tompkins had threatened her and the store manager before forcibly taking her keys and driving away in her car without permission, police said.

A responding officer noted the woman was visibly upset and bore physical evidence of an earlier assault, including fresh red marks, swelling, and a bite mark, police said.

The woman reported that Tompkins had assaulted her earlier that day.

Later, Bristol Township police interviewed the woman at Lower Bucks Hospital regarding an assault at a home in the Levittown section of the township.

The woman detailed a day-long incident that began with verbal abuse and escalated into repeated physical attacks.

According to investigators, Tompkins allegedly smashed the woman’s iPhone and threatened to kill her.

At one point, Tompkins reportedly urinated on the floor and dragged the woman through it, police said.

According to police, she told investigators she lost consciousness after Tompkins forced her to the ground and slammed her head against the floor.

The woman reported being choked to the point where she could not breathe for approximately 10 seconds, police said.

Police said they documented extensive injuries, including lacerations, bruising, scratches, broken fingernails, and evidence of strangulation.

Tompkins was wanted on an out-of-state traffic warrant, police said.

In the Bristol Borough case, Tompkins is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and harassment.

In the Bristol Township case, the charges include aggravated assault, simple assault, strangulation, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, and harassment.

Tompkins was preliminarily arraigned on both cases Sunday morning before District Judge Daniel Baranoski. He is held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.