Police Find Alleged Strangler Under Bridge

The Waterford Police Department arrested an Oakdale man this week for allegedly strangling his girlfriend after they found him hiding under the bridge over Alewife Cove.

On Monday, the Waterford Police Department charged Timothy Douchette, 29, of 69 Sunny Hill Dr, Uncasville, with disorderly conduct, second-degree strangulation, interfering with an officer, third-degree criminal mischief, possession of less than half-an-ounce of marijuana and reckless driving. Police arrested Douchette after he allegedly strangled his girlfriend when he found a photo another man sent to her on her phone.

Douchette evaded Waterford police and even police dogs before being found hiding under the bridge over Alewife Cove on the Waterford-New London line.

Douchette has a long criminal history, with previous convictions for second-degree accessory to robbery, breach of peace and second-degree threatening. At his first court date, he was held on $30,000 bail and the alleged victim was granted a protective order against him.

The Story

On the morning of March 18th, the Waterford Police Department received a phone call from the alleged victim’s son at 52 Stoneheights Drive for a “physical domestic incident in progress,” according to a police report written by Waterford Police Officer Thomas Veins. Two police officers went to the home, where the son told police that Douchette had already fled the scene in a red pick-up truck, according to the report.

Police interviewed the alleged victim, who said she was dating Douchette, according to the report. She said that morning she took a shower, and during that time Douchette looked through her phone, where he found a photo another man sent her, according to the report.

That caused the two to argue, with the alleged victim saying that Douchette “grabbed her by the neck and backed her against the wall yelling at her,” according to the report. The woman said she never lost consciousness, but said it was difficult to breath, according to the report.

Then, another police officer said he spotted Douchette driving his truck on Great Neck Road, according to the report. Waterford Police Officer Andrew Farrior went there and tried to stop Douchette, but he managed to get away in his truck, according to the report.

Farrior later found the truck abandoned at a home on Glenwood Ave and called in police dogs to search for Douchette, according to the report. That search proved unsuccessful, according to the report.

Finally, two Waterford police officers searched under the bridge over Alewife Cove, where they found Douchette hiding, according to the report. Douchette was brought into custody, where he was found to have a small amount of marijuana and a pipe on him, according to the report.

Douchette denied assaulting the alleged victim, according to the report. In an interview with the alleged victim, she reported that he was often physical with her and described him as “very jealous and controlling,” according to the report.

Douchette’s next court appearance is April 4th.