Missoula police have a man in custody this morning, May 3, after a woman called and claimed that he tried to strangle her with his belt.

“Just before 5:00 a.m. this morning, officers were called to the 300 block of north Higgins where an adult female reported that an adult male had attempted to strangle her with a belt in the alley," said Missoula Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh. "The female was not severely injured and the male was eventually taken into custody and transferred to jail.”

The man, Arthur Kenneth Halks, was charged with Assault With a Weapon. Perhaps the strangest aspect of the arrest is the cause of Halks attack.

“Apparently this man, as well as the female, are homeless. Halks was sleeping, or trying to sleep in the alley. The female came over and attempted to speak with another man who was nearby and apparently it woke Arthur Halks and he was upset by that and then took it out on the female.”

Halks is 57-years-old and the female victim is 59. Welsh said that the victim was the one that made it to a phone and called 911 for help.

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