GROTON, Conn. (AP) _ A former Navy man is being detained under a suicide watch after being charged with torturing his wife in their home for nearly five hours.

The Day of New London reports  that 36-year-old James Tapp of Groton was charged Monday with kidnapping, cruelty to persons, assault and other crimes.

The woman told police the ordeal began at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday and ended at about 5 a.m. Monday. She alleges Tapp beat her, squeezed her finger with pliers, threatened to shoot her and threatened to slice her from ear to ear with a knife.

The woman also alleges Tapp suffers from a stress disorder and brain injury from deployments to Iraq.

Groton Town police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are investigating.

Tapp’s lawyer declined to comment Thursday.
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Information from: The Day, http://www.theday.com

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