This story has been updated to reflect that the suspect had turned himself in.
An Orleans County man accused of strangling someone during an attempted sexual assault has turned himself in to police.
Samuel Ortiz, 20, of Jay was wanted in connection with the incident, which happened in Albany on Sunday, according to Vermont State Police.
Troopers said they began an investigation that day at about 10:40 a.m. and concluded that Ortiz had strangled an unidentified victim while “attempting to engage in a sexual act.”
Troopers said they visited Ortiz’s last known residence and place of employment but couldn’t find him. An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday, and Ortiz now faces charges of attempted sexual assault and aggravated assault.
Police had distributed information while seeking Ortiz’s whereabouts, but said in a press release Wednesday evening that he had “voluntarily appeared” at Orleans Superior Court in Newport.
The incident was at least the second in recent months in which an Orleans County man has been accused of strangling someone. Michael Davis, 18, of Newport was arrested in June after troopers said he put a teenage girl in a chokehold at an after-prom party.
