Sheriff: Bradenton Man Choked, Bound Girlfriend

A Bradenton man was arrested Friday after he allegedly choked his girlfriend until she passed out, then banded her hands and feet with duct tape so he could further batter her, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

David Epperson, 26, was charged with false imprisonment of an adult, battery by strangulation and battery after a verbal domestic argument turned physical at a residence at 600 block of 38th Street West in Bradenton.

The 31-year-old victim said she and Epperson were arguing around 4 p.m. when he started choking her with his hands until she began to pass out. He stopped and she was able to regain consciousness, only to have him have him take a t-shirt and begin strangling her again, stating, “I will kill you!” a report said. At that point, she told authorities she passed out.

She awakened to him tapping her in the face, according to the report. Then he allegedly bound her hands and feet with duct tape so he could beat her, the report says.

Epperson is being held at Manatee County Jail without bond.