The Latest: Alaska House spokesman charged now unemployed

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on former Alaska legislative spokesman charged with assault (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

An Alaska legislative official says the Alaska House majority spokesman facing assault charges is no longer employed by the state.

Will Vandergriff’s last day was Friday. That’s according to Jeremiah Campbell, who has replaced Vandergriff as press secretary.

Vandergriff is charged with two counts of misdemeanour assault in the June 12 incident at an apartment in Anchorage’s Government Hill neighbourhood.

Police say the charges are in connection with an altercation that police say involved striking a woman and holding her down by the throat. The charging document says the woman told police that since February, “‘something like this had happened 3-4 times previously but this time was the worst.’”

Vandergriff had been on administrative leave because of the incident.

He did not immediately respond to a call for comment Thursday. No attorney is listed in court documents for Vandergriff, who is scheduled for an arraignment on July 22.

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11:45 a.m.

The spokesman for the majority caucus of the Alaska House of Representatives has been charged with assault in connection with an altercation prosecutors say involved striking a woman and holding her down by the throat.

Will Vandergriff faces two counts of fourth degree assault in the June 12 incident at an apartment in Anchorage’s Government Hill neighbourhood. The charging document says the woman told responding officers her ears were still ringing after Vandergriff hit her on the head several times.

The 37-year-Vandergriff was initially arrested for felony assault and released on bail June 13. Formal charges were filed June 28.

Vandergriff did not immediately respond to a call for comment Thursday. No attorney is listed in court documents for Vandergriff, who is scheduled for a July 22 arraignment.

Vandergriff has been on administrative leave.