A Kodiak chiropractor charged with three felonies has been withdrawn from consideration for a state board.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy in January nominated 45-year-old Christopher Twiford for a seat on the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board.
Twiford was arraigned Tuesday in Kodiak on three counts of felony assault. He's also charged with misdemeanor assault and possession of a weapon while intoxicated. He did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow said by email Thursday night that Twiford was immediately withdrawn from the board when the administration learned of the charges.
The Kodiak city jail lists Twiford as free on bail as of Wednesday.
Dunleavy appointed Twiford to join the Workers’ Compensation Board on Jan. 25. The three-year appointment was to take effect March 1. The board reviews labor regulations and resolves disputed benefits claims.
The criminal complaint stemmed from the report of a doctor. A physician called Kodiak police Feb. 3 to report that a patient’s injuries were likely caused by an assault, including strangulation.
Police contacted the patient. She showed investigators a bruise on her head that she said was caused when Twiford hit her in the head with a pet food dish, knocking her to the floor.
She told police that when she tried to stand, Twiford hit her again and pushed her back down. He retrieved a revolver and pointed at her chest, the woman told police.
When Twiford put the gun down, she said, a scuffle began. She said Twiford tried to strangle her, climbed on top of her, put all his weight on her chest and made it difficult for her to breathe. She said she bit him on the chest.
The woman said Twiford had been drinking continuously over 24 hours and that she had consumed shots also.
She was diagnosed afterward with a concussion. Officers photographed bruises on her arms, shoulders, back and head.
The woman told police that Twiford in November had pointed a gun at her face after an argument and threatened to shoot her if she dated someone else.
Twiford’s bail was set at $3,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21.