Charged: 27-year-old Racine woman accused of assaulting another woman "for no apparent reason"

MOUNT PLEASANT (WITI) -- A 27-year-old Racine woman has been criminally charged in connection with an assault that occurred in the Lake Park neighborhood in Mount Pleasant early Wednesday morning, April 1st.

Ashley Gehrke

Police were called out to the 1600 block of Lakewood Avenue just after 1:00 a.m. in regards to an assault that had just taken place.

Upon arrival, officers met with a 24-year-old woman who had injuries to her head, neck and face.

The woman told police that while she was being assaulted, she managed to exit the residence she was in -- running across the street, borrowing a phone from a neighbor and calling police.

She told police she was inside the home celebrating a friend's birthday when, for no apparent reason, she was attacked by 27-year-old Ashley Gehrke, who was also at the party. The woman said Gehrke punched her numerous times, threw her to the ground, strangled her, and refused to allow her to leave the home.

Police observed evidence of injury inside the victim's mouth and throat, and the victim reported Gehrke put her hands in the victim's mouth.

The victim was taken to the hospital where she was treated and released.

Gehrke was arrested and charged with one count of strangulation and suffocation, one count of substantial battery, causing intentional bodily harm, one count of false imprisonment and one count of disorderly conduct.

Gehrke will be in court on April 9th for her preliminary hearing.