Arraignment postponed in Port Angeles strangling case

PORT ANGELES — The arraignment of a Port Angeles man charged with attempting to strangle his girlfriend to death has been delayed to allow for a competency evaluation.

The arraignment of Jordan S.B. Williams, 31, on a charge of attempted second-degree murder-intentional murder domestic violence was postponed to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in Clallam County Superior Court during a hearing Friday.

Public defender John Hayden asked for the delay to begin the process of having Williams’ competency evaluated.

Williams remained in the Clallam County jail on $250,000 bail Saturday.

Account

Port Angeles police said Williams strangled and hit Emily Fisher, 28, of Port Angeles.

Fisher barricaded herself in a bedroom and phoned 9-1-1 at 3:39 a.m. Sept. 19, police said in the arrest narrative.

Fisher was found coughing, gasping and wheezing, and had red marks and scratches on her neck, Officer Michael Johnson wrote.

Fisher was admitted to Olympic Medical Center’s critical care unit with throat injuries after the attack.

She was reported to be in satisfactory condition later that day and was later discharged.

Williams told police Fisher attacked him and that he acted in self-defense, the report said.

Fisher told police Williams had threatened to kill her, her dog, other people and the police as he grabbed her by the throat and strangled her, Johnson said in the police report.

She “fought to pull Williams’ hands away from her neck but Williams overpowered her efforts and continued to [strangle] her,” Johnson said.

Fisher told police she remembered thinking, “He might actually kill me.”

She said she remembered “losing time” and was “brought back” by the pain of her attacker’s fingernails digging into her neck.

According to the arrest narrative, Williams could be heard saying he was going to “kill the cops” when officers arrived at the Lee Plaza apartment.

Dispatchers overheard a male threatening “suicide by cop” when Fisher phoned 9-1-1.

“Jordan Williams came to the door and stood menacingly in the doorway, posturing, with fists clenched,” Johnson wrote in the case report.

“Williams was profusely sweating, agitated, glaring at officers.”

The “combative and uncooperative” man was eventually handcuffed after officers threatened to use a Taser on him.

Attempted second-degree murder is a Class A felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Williams was ordered to have no contact with Fisher.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.

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