Toledo man is jailed in girlfriend's assault

3/25/2008

A North Toledo man accused of beating, threatening, and choking his girlfriend was being held last night in the Lucas County jail without bond pending his arraignment today in Toledo Municipal Court, authorities said.

Rhonye Lincoln, Jr., 40, of 342 Floyd St., was arrested Sunday and charged with felonious assault. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Lincoln and his girlfriend, Angel Niedbalski, 29, began arguing about 12:10 a.m. Thursday and continued arguing for several hours. Niedbalski told police Lincoln became agitated and began hitting her in the face and head with his fist.

He then choked her until she lost consciousness, police said.

After Niedbalski regained consciousness, Lincoln struck her in the buttocks with a hammer, causing a deep laceration. He is accused of then threatening to kill her, police said.

Niedbalski repeatedly asked to be taken to the hospital, but Lincoln refused to let her out of the apartment and instead put tape over the laceration in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Lincoln later walked Niedbalski to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where a nursing supervisor said yesterday she had no information on a patient by that name.