NORTHAMPTON — A Florence man was ordered held without bail last week on an attempted murder charge after he allegedly strangled a family member who ended up in a hospital trauma unit.

Cody M. Malone, 25, was charged with attempted murder, strangulation or suffocation causing serious bodily injury, and assault and battery. He was ordered held by Judge Paul M. Vrabel at his arraignment Friday in Northampton District Court. A dangerousness hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8 and he was appointed an attorney through the Committee for Public Counsel Services.

Northampton police responded to Malone’s residence on the evening of Aug. 27 for a report of someone who was choking, according to a police report filed in court documents. An unconscious person was found in the living room of the residence, according to police. A fire official told police at the scene that it appeared as though the person was choked with a cord or a necklace as there was an indentation on the person’s neck, according to police.

Malone allegedly told police that the person did not put their hands on him, but that he choked the person during an argument, police said. He reportedly told police that he was unsure how long the choking occurred, and that he may have blacked out and lost track of time. Malone told police that after he realized what he had done, he called for help. Malone was placed under arrest.

The victim was transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and admitted to the trauma unit. Police wrote in court documents that the person would likely spend at least one night in the intensive care unit.

Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com. ]]>