City resident charged with sexual assault

TORRINGTON » A city man has been charged with sexual assault after allegedly hitting and choking a woman, according to court records.

Edward Rush Jr., 44, of 150 Hoerle Blvd., was arrested June 2 and charged with a felony sexual assault charge, second-degree assault, second-degree strangulation and first-degree unlawful restraint.

Rush allegedly struck a woman in the face, choked her and assaulted her in May, according to an affidavit seeking a warrant for his arrest. The victim told police that she “blacked out because of the pain” while being struck, then later convinced Rush to let her get up to use the restroom, at which time she called police. The victim sustained “trauma to her face, including broken blood vessels in her right eye,” facial swelling, bruising and scratches during the incident, according to the affidavit.

Rush told police that he had stopped the sexual encounter after the victim had requested so and had not struck her in the face or grabbed her by the neck, according to the affidavit.

All four of the charges against Rush are considered felonies in Connecticut.

Rush was released after posting $150,000 bail, according to state records. His case was transferred from Bantam Superior Court to Litchfield Superior Court on June 5, where more serious cases are heard, according to court documents. He is next scheduled to appear in court June 20.

The Torrington Police Department building.