NEWBURGH – A Newburgh City police officer, who was placed in a choke hold by a man who she found passed out behind the wheel of a car, was able to break free and arrest the man.

At 5 a.m. on Sunday, Officer Christina Schluter found a 1999 Acura parked on a front lawn on Williamsburgh Drive resting against a homeowner’s bushes.

The driver, Ucial Vidals, 32, of 163 Renwick Street in Newburgh, was in a semi-conscious state and slumped over the steering wheel. Schluter opened the door and reached in to turn off the ignition. She tried to wake him at which point he began to waive his arms at her, pushed her away and tried to start the car again.

The officer reached in to remove the keys from the ignition and Vidals placed her in a choke hold, obstructing her airway and wouldn’t let go. Schluter was able to apply pressure to a pressure point on Vidals’ face allowing her to break free, remove him from the car onto the ground and handcuff him.

Schluter was treated at a local hospital emergency room and released in time to complete the booking process on Vidals. A breath test determined Vidals had a BAC of .14 percent.  He was charged with felonies for driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation, assault on a police officer and a misdemeanor for strangulation.