PD: Man Slugs 'Wife' in Sleep After She Grabs Covers

A 48-year-old Middletown man is facing assault charges after Middletown Police say he slugged his 19-year live-in girlfriend in the face while he was asleep.

On Aug. 19 at 5:18 a.m., Curtis Phillips of Ridge Road was in a physical fight with his 19-year live-in girlfriend, police indicate. The report says they pushed and shoved each other over who had possession of the blankets; when Phillips "woke in a rage" and punched her in the face, causing a bloody nose and swollen left eye, the report indicates.

Police noticed the blood was older than what was being reported, and Phillips said they had fought earlier in the evening and when he fell asleep, his girlfriend pulled the covers off him, and he swing his arm, hitting her in his sleep, "not knowing what he was doing."

The report says, "the living conditions in the house were awful with items and clothing strewn across the house."

Phillips was charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.