Man living in a tent in Willington is accused of attacking and threatening a woman with a knife

WILLINGTON, CT (WFSB) – A man living in a tent in Willington was arrested for threatening a woman with a knife and holding her against her will, according to state police.

Officers said they arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Yokabaskas of Granby on Wednesday.

They said they responded around 8:25 a.m. that day to a report of an argument between a man and a woman at a business in Willington.

Another report said a woman was attacked against her will and held at knifepoint.

This caller also told dispatchers that the suspect was in a vehicle in the business’s parking lot.

Officers arrived and identified the suspect as Yokabaskas. He was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

They said Yokabaskas initially did not follow their verbal commands. However, he was safely handcuffed and patted down for possible weapons. No weapons were found at this time.

Additional police met the female victim. They said she had visible injuries on her face and hands. Based on their initial findings, they concluded that the incident met the criteria of a family violent crime.

The victim was taken to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment.

The victim told officers that Yokabaskas lived in a tent in a wooded area on Ruby Road in Willington. When the victim visited Yokabaskas at his campsite on Tuesday evening, the victim alleged that Yokabaskas threatened to kill her during an argument and she tried to leave. According to the victim, Yokabaskas prevented her from leaving by forcing her to the ground. The victim said that during the second attempt to escape, Yokabaskas punched her in the face and forced her to the ground again. He then bound her wrists with a rope, which she later convinced Yokabaskas to remove. The victim further alleged that in the hours that followed, Yokabaskas threatened to kill her and held a knife to her throat several times.

According to the victim, she said she convinced Yokabaskas to allow her to use the restroom at a nearby business around 8 a.m. The victim drove to the store accompanied by Yokabaskas. The victim further stated that when they got there, Yokabaskas remained in her vehicle while she went inside. Once inside, the victim contacted a family member and explained what had happened. The family member then called 911.

While on scene, officers asked Yokabaskas his side of the story. Yokabaskas said he and the victim fought. When asked if he had a knife, Yokabaskas replied that he had one but did not carry it with him.

During a search of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a knife with an approximately 15 cm long blade was seized and later processed as evidence.

Yokabaskas was charged with possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, second-degree breach of peace, third-degree assault, second-degree menacing, second-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful taking of hostages.

He was held on a $250,000 cash/surety bond and arraigned Thursday in Rockville Superior Court.

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