Chambersburg man arrested for aggravated assault, strangulation on New Year's Day

A Chambersburg man was arrested on the first day of the year for allegedly assaulting a woman.

Kenneth Keever, 30, was charged Wednesday with aggravated assault, strangulation, drug violations and more, according to court records.

Police arrived at a property on Sycamore Grove Road at approximately 2:30 a.m. in response to a call for a domestic dispute. 

The inside of the home was in disarray, with blood on the floor and broken furniture and items strewn across the house.

Troopers interviewed a woman who had scratches on her chest, a swollen right cheekbone beginning to bruise, reddening around her neck and red marks and a swollen lump on her head.

She also told troopers of pain on the right side of her ribs, but the injury wasn't immediately visible, according to police.

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Keever and the woman had been at a New Year's Eve party earlier that night, according to court records. She said Keever left the party before she went home and got in bed. 

Keever arrived at her home in the early hours of Jan. 1. 

She told police that she told Keever she didn't want to fight with him because "he was drunk." 

Keever then asked her if she was afraid and asked to see her phone, but she refused and attempted to make a call. 

When she tried to leave, Keever pulled her down by her hair, held her down, bit her multiple times and held his forearm against her throat, according to police.

As Keever began destroying items in the home, the woman fled to get help.

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Keever left in his vehicle, and police found him at a nearby Giant grocery store. The woman's phone, a container with suspected marijuana and other items of drug paraphernalia were in his possession, according to police.

Keever was put in Franklin County Jail on $100,000 bail.

He is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Annie Gomez-Shockey for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 7. 

Carley Bonk is a Watchdog Reporter for the Chambersburg Public Opinion. She can be reached at cbonk@publicopinionnews.com or on Twitter at @carls_marie.