Man Used Leash On Wife With Dementia At Fair, Police Say

A Maryland man is facing a simple assault charge after using a dog leash to lead his wife around a Pennsylvania fair because she has late-stage dementia.

West Manchester police say Walter Wolford yanked the 8-inch long red nylon leash, causing his wife’s head to jerk back and leave red marks around her throat. But the 66-year-old Hagerstown man says he only gently tugged on the leash, which he uses to keep his wife from getting lost.

Authorities say the officer called to the York Fair on Saturday tried to speak to the woman. But she didn’t know where she was, didn’t know her name and couldn’t form words.

Wolford says that he attached the leash to his wife’s waist, but that it somehow moved up around her neck.

It wasn’t known Tuesday whether Wolford has an attorney to comment for him.