During assault, victim texted a friend to call 911, Olympia police say

A 34-year-old woman repeatedly assaulted during a domestic violence incident finally was able to send a text to a friend to call 911, according to Olympia police.

About 2:10 p.m. Dec. 13, police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Fones Road Southeast. They knocked on the door of the residence and could hear yelling inside. The victim finally emerged with a child, Lt. Paul Lower said.

Police could see that she had blood around her mouth, a swollen lip, a cut near an eye and abrasions across her forehead, Lower said. Medics treated her at the scene, he said.

Police later learned that an argument between the 41-year-old man and the woman, who were in a dating relationship, had turned violent.

The man punched her, then dragged her from the living room to a bedroom by her hair, Lower said. He continued to hit her in the bedroom and also prevented her from calling 911, he said.

The suspect then stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door, which gave the victim time to text a friend to call for help, Lower said.

The man was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence-related second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and felony harassment, Lower said.