Police say a New York anesthesiologist choked a woman and forced her to swallow a pill that could cause an abortion after she told him she was pregnant.

The Ulster County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded Wednesday night to a "no voice" 911 call from a home in the town of Rosendale, 60 miles south of Albany.

Police say they learned that 44-year-old Thomas Pfeiffer of Red Hook had choked the woman and forced her to swallow a pill that could cause an abortion after she told him a home pregnancy test had come out positive.

Pfeiffer was charged with strangulation, abortion and assault. He's being held Friday in the county jail on $50,000 cash bail. It couldn't immediately be determined if he has a lawyer.

The woman was treated at a hospital and released. Police haven't released details on her relationship with Pfeiffer.