A man is facing assault charges following a weekend incident in Missoula.
Law enforcement was called to reports of a disturbance in the 2400 block of North Reserve Street at approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday.
A caller told authorities that a male was on top of a woman between Target and Albertson’s.
The suspect, Clifton Phillips age 46, was seen punching and strangling the woman, who was later identified at Phillips’s wife, according to charging documents.
The caller expressed his belief that Phillips would have killed his wife if not for the intervention of the witnesses -- including the Target security employees.
Phillips left before officers arrived but was found in the area later and taken into custody.
Officers said Phillips was heavily intoxicated when found.
Prosecutors say in charging documents that he’s being held on charges related to the incident that include partner/family member assault and partner/family member strangulation, both felonies.
The female was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
Phillips is being held on a $100,000 bond in the Missoula County jail.
Click here to view the court documents in the case (pdf).
