MA Man Strangles Girlfriend In Johnston, Facing 60+ Gun Charges: AG

JOHNSTON, RI — A Massachusetts man was arrested in Johnston after he strangled his girlfriend and was caught with guns and ammunition he was not legally allowed to own, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said Tuesday.

On Dec. 4, 2023, Yaran Drawbridge, 42, of Holden, Massachusetts, was charged in Providence County Superior Court with 62 counts of possession of a large capacity magazine, three counts of possession of a sawed-off rifle, one count of domestic assault by strangulation, one count of simple domestic assault, and one count of domestic disorderly conduct.

On May 4, 2023, Johnston police were called to a domestic disturbance. When police arrived, they found the victim waiting at a neighbor's house. Prosecutors said she told police she escaped a domestic assault by her boyfriend, Drawbridge. According to prosecutors, Drawbridge assaulted the victim and put her in a chokehold, before the victim escaped through a bathroom window.

Prosecutors said the victim told police she believed Drawbridge was still in the home and had several guns in his possession.

Police entered the house through a back door. While searching the house, prosecutors said police found various types of large-capacity magazines and other gun paraphernalia in the basement of the home. Ultimately, they were unable to find Drawbridge, at which time the victim told police he owned another home in Holden.

Police were granted a warrant and alerted Holden police on the matter. Prosecutors said the enxt day, Drawbridge turned himself in to Johnston police.

Investigators again searched Drawbridge's Johnston home and seized three altered rifles, with shortened barrels, and 62 large capacity magazines, including 30-round .223 caliber, 30-round 7.62mm, and 31-round 9mm magazines, prosecutors said.

Drawbridge is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on Feb. 7, in Providence County Superior Court.

Have a news tip? Email jimmy.bentley@patch.com.