Report: Man attacked woman holding her baby

BELLEVUE — A Bellevue man accused of attacking a woman and her infant on Christmas was arrested during a traffic stop the next day. Bellevue police arrested Joshua D. Panuto, 28, of the 100 block of Huffman St., shortly after midnight and was booked into the Sandusky County Jail on the following charges: • Two counts of domestic violence, each a first-degree misdemeanor • One count of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor • One count of refusal of OVI test, a first-degree misdemeanor • One count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony • One count of strangulation, a second-degree felony • One count of endangering children, a second-degree felony As of Wednesday afternoon, Panuto remains in the Sandusky County Jail on a $94,000 bond and has no upcoming court hearing scheduled at this time, according to court and jail records. Background The investigation into Panuto began on Dec. 25, when Bellevue police responded to a call for a residence in the 100 block of Huffman St. after receiving a report that a man allegedly assaulted a woman and her baby before leaving the scene, according to a Bellevue police report. When officers arrived at the scene, they began speaking with the victim, who advised them that Panuto had assaulted and kicked her. Officers noted that the woman's face was swollen and bloodied, and she was holding an infant in her arms that also appeared to have blood on its face, the report states. Due to the extent of the woman's injuries, officers asked her to sit on the couch while they asked her more questions. The woman told the officers that during the assault, she had dropped the baby multiple times due to being allegedly attacked by Panuto, the report states. Officers observed that the baby didn't appear to have any bruising on them, but that their right eyelid appeared to be red and swollen. The woman further told the officers that at some point during the assault, Panuto had strangled her and that she lost consciousness, the report states. Due to the extent of both the woman's and the infant's injuries, the child was transported first to the hospital, and the woman was transported separately as officers collected her clothing for blood evidence. Shortly after midnight, Bellevue police, who were advised to be on the lookout for Panuto, pulled him over near his residence, where the alleged assault took place. When officers pulled over Panuto, they detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath, and he was asked to do a field sobriety test, which he refused, and was transported to the Sandusky County Jail, the report states.