Stuart man accused of choking and trying to throw woman off third-story hotel balcony

Sara Marino | Treasure Coast Newspapers

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MARTIN COUNTY — After a heated argument, a Stuart man was accused of choking a woman and trying to throw her off a third-story balcony of a hotel Sunday.

Craig Masse, 35, of the 1900 block of Southeast Federal Highway in Stuart, was arrested on Sunday night on charges of domestic battery by strangulation, resisting without violence and arson.

Deputies said they arrived at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, where Masse and the woman live, after witnesses called saying Masse was trying to harm the woman.

Deputies said they found the woman crying on the floor of the bathroom with the right side of her neck swollen. Shortly after, deputies said Masse came into the room shouting that the woman should be arrested because she punched him in the eye.

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The woman told deputies she has lived with Masse for about a year. She said Masse came home yelling Sunday and started throwing food at her.

Masse then began to choke her and tried to throw her off the balcony, the woman told deputies. While Masse was choking her, she punched him in the face to get him off her, she told deputies

Masse was arrested and taken to the Martin County Jail.

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While Masse was in a holding cell at the jail, deputies said he started lighting toilet paper on fire. When deputies searched Masse, they said they found a lighter in his underwear.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Masse remained in jail with bail set at $500,000.