Cops: Doctor forced woman to swallow abortion pill

ROSENDALE, N.Y. -- Police say a New York doctor choked a woman and forced her to swallow a pill that could cause an abortion, after she told him she was pregnant.

The Ulster County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded Wednesday night to a "no voice" 911 call from a residence in the town of Rosendale, 60 miles south of Albany.

Police say they learned that 44-year-old Dr. Thomas Pfeiffer, a licensed anesthesiologist from Red Hook, had choked the woman and forced her to swallow a pill that could cause an abortion after she told him a home pregnancy test had come out positive.

Pfeiffer was charged with strangulation, assault and abortion in the second degree, or committing an "abortional act."

He's being held Friday in the county jail on $50,000 cash bail.

The woman was treated at a hospital and released. Police haven't released details on her relationship with Pfeiffer.