Carlisle police arrested a 48-year-old man on felony strangulation charges after responding to a reported domestic assault on West North Street on September 3, taking him into custody a short time after officers arrived at the scene. Strato Marco Della Ragione, who lives in Carlisle, now faces a second-degree felony count of strangulation, a second-degree misdemeanor count of simple assault involving domestic violence, and a summary count of harassment.
The Franklin County Free Press link appears with the account. Officers responded to the first block of West North Street in Carlisle following the reported domestic disturbance. Per the police report, officers determined that a victim had allegedly been strangled during the incident. The Carlisle Police Department logged the case under incident reference ID CAR2026-09-0201, with official blotter details describing Della Ragione as 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds.
What the Felony Charge Actually Means
Pennsylvania elevated domestic strangulation to a second-degree felony under Act 111 of 2016, and a conviction under Title 18 Section 2718 of the state's Crimes Code carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, according to the Zuckerman Law Firm. Notably, the statute does not require proof of physical injury for a conviction — lawmakers removed that requirement specifically so a lack of visible bruising couldn't be used as a defense, per Justia Law's summary of the law.
That distinction matters in cases like this one, where the severity of the charge hinges not on documented wounds but on the act of restricting a victim's breathing or blood flow. The summary harassment charge against Della Ragione is comparatively minor, but it was filed alongside the felony and misdemeanor counts stemming from the same incident.
Protection From Abuse Proceedings
Protection From Abuse proceedings are civil.
The arrest record does not identify a business connection for Della Ragione.
Statewide Numbers Behind Local Cases
Civil protection filings are part of Pennsylvania's court system, even as individual criminal cases like Della Ragione's move through separate proceedings.
Carlisle's police department responded to the West North Street call.
Resources for Local Victims
Local victims may seek domestic-violence resources.
Strato Marco Della Ragione is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law, and the charges against him represent allegations that have not yet been tested in court.
