A Chesapeake man is behind bars after police say a domestic assault call ended with a woman reporting she had been strangled by her romantic partner. Blair Hess was arrested and charged with domestic assault and strangulation resulting in bodily injury. Animal control officers also hauled a dog out of the backyard, where it had been chained.
Officers were sent to a Chesapeake residence on Tuesday for a report of a domestic assault in progress, according to WAVY.com. Police said the alleged victim reported that her romantic partner assaulted and strangulated her. The suspect, per police, acknowledged during the investigation that an argument had taken place.
Hess was taken into custody after the investigation. The report does not identify the alleged victim or include a direct statement from her, and it does not detail her injuries or provide the full police report.
Animal Services Removes Chained Dog
Chesapeake Animal Services also responded to the home and removed a dog that was chained in the backyard, the station's account notes. The report does not say why the dog was chained or who owned it. It also does not say whether any animal-related citation or charge was issued.
The outlet is urging readers to check back for updates as the case develops. Details such as bond status, a court date, and any later court action for Hess were not part of the initial report.
What Virginia Law Says About Strangulation
Strangulation carries serious weight under state law. Under Virginia Code § 18.2-51.6, a person who, without consent, impedes another person's blood circulation or respiration by knowingly, intentionally, and unlawfully applying pressure to the neck, resulting in wounding or bodily injury, is guilty of strangulation, a Class 6 felony.
Simple assault and battery against a family or household member is a separate offense. Virginia Code § 18.2-57.2 makes that a Class 1 misdemeanor. Hess has been charged, not convicted, and nothing in the available record speaks to guilt or the eventual outcome of the case.
Anyone looking to follow the case can search criminal cases by locality, name, case number, or hearing date through the Virginia Court System online portal for general district courts.
A Broader Look at Domestic Assault Numbers
Elsewhere in Virginia, domestic assault figures have been climbing. WRIC reported that Richmond had recorded 1,010 domestic assault cases in 2026 by an October 13 briefing, compared with 907 at the same point in 2025. Those numbers are specific to Richmond and say nothing about a Chesapeake trend.
The same report points to changes in state law that expanded who qualifies as a “family or household member” by adding “intimate partner.” That shift can cause some assaults to be recorded as domestic violence.
