STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A military police officer with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is accused of choking a woman during an early-morning argument in Arrochar.

Sebastion Petion, 24, of Monroe, N.Y., is charged with third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and second-degree harassment, all misdemeanors, according to information from District Attorney Daniel Donovan's office.

The incident happened at the corner of Major and Lily Pond avenues at about 6:50 a.m. April 26, according to court papers. Petion choked the woman, threw her to the ground, and punched her legs and arms several times, police allege.

Though his relationship to the woman isn't spelled out in court documents, his case is listed as a domestic violence incident on the court system's online docket. He was arraigned Tuesday in Stapleton Criminal Court and released on his own recognizance until his next appearance June 25.

A law enforcement source said Petion works as a military police officer out of the Department of Veteran Affairs office at 423 East 23rd St. in Manhattan.

Attempts to reach a department spokesman were unsuccessful.