A former spokesman for the majority caucus of the Alaska House of Representatives who is accused of striking a woman and holding her down by the throat has pleaded not guilty to assault charges.
KTUU-TV Will Vandergriff denied two misdemeanor assault charges Friday in connection with the June 12 incident at an apartment in Anchorage’s Government Hill neighborhood.
Court documents say the woman told officers Vandergriff hit her on the head several times and pinned her down on the ground to keep her from leaving the apartment they shared.
Vandergriff allegedly told authorities he and the woman had gotten into an argument but he didn’t assault her.
Vandergriff had been placed on administrative leave after the incident and Jeremiah Campbell replaced him as press secretary earlier this month.
