A 49-year-old city man accused of holding a woman against her will and assaulting her at a New London motel was ordered held in lieu of $75,000 at his arraignment Wednesday in New London Superior Court.

Dennis K. Parrish of 75 Boulder Drive, New London, is charged with first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree assault.

According to a police report, a concerned citizen told New London police she had picked up a woman in the area of Colman and Vauxhall streets bleeding from the groin and crying uncontrollably about 9:30 a.m. Friday. The citizen dropped the woman off in the area of Blackhall and Truman streets and reported the incident to police. Patrolmen located the victim, who told them a man had picked her up in a gold Cadillac and that they drove around and ate at a fast-food restaurant before getting a room at the Red Roof Inn.

Once inside the motel, the woman said he became violent, hitting her with his cane and stabbing her in the legs with a knife she carried for protection. She also said he produced a small semi-automatic handgun and pistol-whipped her on the left side of her head.

The woman said a friend of hers described having a similar experience earlier that week with a man fitting a similar description.

The police learned Parrish had rented the room and tracked him to the Boulder Street address using his car registration. They searched the home, with consent from Parrish’s daughter, but did not locate any weapons. They located the second victim and are investigating her allegations.

Parrish, who limped into the courtroom for his arraignment, had been hospitalized due to a car accident, according to Bail Commissioner Timothy Gilman. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy and is currently unemployed, Gilman said.

Parrish was twice convicted of drunken driving in Virginia, and in 2001 served two years in prison for a narcotics offense and possession of a pistol without a permit.

He is due back in court on Dec. 3.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN