Lynn man charged with attacking ex-girlfriend

LYNN – A judge ordered a city man held without bail after a disabled woman told police her ex-boyfriend beat and strangled her after she woke up to see him drunk and standing over her bed and he refused to leave.”At one point, (the defendant) placed both hands around her neck and began to strangle her,” Lynn Police Officer Jeffrey Trahant wrote in a report. “(The alleged victim) said that she almost lost consciousness. (Her) children witnessed this event and were yelling for (the defendant) to get out of the house and leave their mother alone.”Bret M. Reilly, 45, of Chase Street, was arrested on a warrant for assault and battery; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; witness intimidation; assault and battery on a disabled person; and threat to commit murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday in Lynn District Court.Police reported responding to an Ingalls Street apartment Feb. 26 where the alleged victim said she woke up to find Reilly “hovering over her” while she was in bed. The alleged victim told police Reilly, her ex-boyfriend, smelled of alcohol and they began to argue. Reilly allegedly refused to leave and allegedly warned the woman that he would kill her if she called police.Reilly then allegedly hit the woman in the head, sending her to the floor. Police said the alleged victim reported Reilly got on top of her, punched her head and slammed it against the floor and tried to strangle her. He then allegedly fled the scene.Police noted a lump on the alleged victim’s forehead and red marks on her neck but said she declined medical treatment, according to reports.Essex Assistant District Attorney Katelyn Giliberti requested Reilly be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. Judge James LaMothe agreed to the request, ordering Reilly to return to court today.