A Windsor restaurant owner has been taken into custody after an alleged assault on an employee Wednesday morning, according to a probable cause statement filed by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched to New China in the 100 block of South Main Street at 11:06 a.m. on December 10 after a 911 hang-up in which screaming could be heard. A second caller reported seeing a man attempting to drag a woman back into the business and requested an officer respond.
When deputies arrived, they contacted the reporting party, identified as the victim, who told officers her boss had grabbed her arm, pulled her hair, and choked her. A man identified as Jinchao Li then exited the kitchen, and the victim confirmed he was the individual who assaulted her.
Due to a language barrier, deputies attempted to communicate with Li through a translation application on his phone. According to the statement, Li told deputies the pair had argued about “work matters” and admitted he may have “accidentally” put his hand around the victim’s neck.
A witness at the scene told deputies he saw a woman trying to leave the restaurant as a man attempted to pull her back inside, identifying Li as the man involved.
The victim later told deputies the altercation began when she confronted Li about not contributing to the workload. She stated Li grabbed her by the hair and tried pulling her toward the trash area. When she threatened to call police unless he apologized, she said he refused and became aggravated. As she attempted to leave, she reported that Li blocked her exit and said, “lock the doors, I’m going to ——- kill her.”
According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim managed to get outside, but Li allegedly grabbed her and tried pulling her back into the restaurant. She dropped to the ground to resist and attempted to call 911, eventually flagging down a passing vehicle for help.
Based on statements from both the victim and the witness, deputies arrested Li at the scene. The victim showed pain in her wrist while demonstrating the incident, though deputies did not observe visible marks on her neck. She initially said she wished to press charges but later expressed hesitation, noting she planned to move out of state.
Li declined to answer questions during a later interview at the Henry County Detention Center, stating through a translator that he wanted to hire an attorney.
The Henry County Prosecuting Attorney, LaChrisha Gray filed charges of Domestic Assault 3rd Degree (Class E Felony) & Misdemeanor Kidnapping 3rd Degree (Class A).
