A wanted man attacks a woman and holds her against her will in her own Windham apartment

WINDHAM, Conn. (WFSB) – A man already wanted by police has been arrested after the victim reported he was attacked and held against his will.

State police identified the suspect as Anthony Waterman, 23, of Hartford.

Anthony Waterman was arrested by Connecticut State Police on October 29, 2024.(Connecticut State Police)

On October 29, troopers responded to the Willimantic Police Department to investigate a reported assault.

The attack occurred at an apartment in Windham.

The investigating officer spoke with the victim at the Willimantic Police Station.

“The victim reported to officers that Waterman was holding her against her will in his apartment,” state police said. “The victim explained that Waterman stayed with her for approximately two weeks and she eventually began to feel that she was in danger.”

She said that when she tried to leave the apartment on the morning of October 29, Waterman physically stopped her.

The victim reported to officers that Waterman pushed her backwards with both hands, causing her to fall backwards.

“The victim explained that Waterman then grabbed her around the neck and squeezed, making it difficult to breathe,” state police said. “The victim further explained that Waterman picked her up off the floor by her neck and pushed her against the wall before releasing his grip.”

State police then said the victim reported that Waterman took a metal pipe from a broken towel rack and hit her with it. As a result of the incident, the victim reported bruises on her lower limbs.

A police officer from the Eastern Connecticut State University Police Department assisted troopers with the investigation and obtained photos of the victim’s injuries.

The victim stated that he was eventually able to leave his residence after 10:00 a.m. to attend a meeting.

At that point, she went to the police station with her friends.

The victim reported that Waterman did not leave her residence for a two-week period because he knew he had an outstanding arrest warrant and that the police were looking for him.

She also reported that Waterman was in possession of a gun.

“The victim reported another incident during which Waterman tied her up, put a sock in her mouth, and after a verbal argument, held a firearm to her head,” state police said. “The victim reported an additional assault with a firearm in which Waterman struck her with the weapon, an act known as a “pistol whipping.”

Officers confirmed that Waterman did in fact have two active arrest warrants for failure to appear, and the original charges included aggravated assault, probation violation, interfering with police and possession of a controlled substance.

While the investigating officer received a sworn statement from the victim, Waterman sent the Face Time video to one of her friends. State police said in the video he placed clothes in the middle of a room in the apartment and poured lighter fluid on them.

“Waterman could be heard threatening the victim to set her belongings on fire if she did not call him immediately,” state police said.

Following the video, state police evacuated people from the apartment building for safety reasons.

When this happened, Waterman tried to sneak out the back door.

The officer spotted him, which caused Waterman to run away.

However, the state police K9 unit was able to track him down. At this point he was arrested and taken to the hospital for treatment of the K9 bite.

“A search of the area was conducted, including Waterman’s travel route,” state police said. “A loaded firearm was found in the bushes just before where Waterman was detained by the K9.”

Officers found the gun matched the description provided by the victim. The firearm was seized as evidence during the investigation.

When Waterman was released from the hospital, he was charged with: Obstructing/Resisting an Officer, First Degree Breach of Peace, Disorderly Conduct, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Second Degree Assault, First Degree Menacing with a Firearm, Second Degree Reckless Endangerment, Second Degree Strangulation/Strangulation and first-degree unlawful restraint.

Waterman was held on $750,000 bond on those charges and an additional $110,000 on combined bonds stemming from the arrest warrants.

He was scheduled to appear in Danielson Superior Court on Wednesday.