LOWELL >> A trial date has been scheduled for Andrew Duncan, who is accused of assaulting an escort and physically preventing her from leaving his apartment in Downtown Lowell following a confrontation over money in May.

Duncan, 49, charged with kidnapping and assault and battery, is set to have his case tried in front of a jury in Lowell District Court, starting on April 25, according to court documents.

Duncan’s attorney, Michael DiStefano, declined discussing the upcoming trial in depth, but did say in a statement to The Sun on Saturday that Duncan “steadfastly denies the allegations.”

“Due to the upcoming trial, we have no further comments at this time,” DiStefano said.

Duncan, who serves as the community and cultural liaison at Enterprise Bank, was arrested by Lowell Police at the Ayer Lofts, where he lives, on the night of May 15. Police reports available in court documents state officers were first called to the property, at 172 Middle St., shortly before 9:30 p.m. for reports of a man who was pepper sprayed by a woman after he allegedly attacked her inside his fifth-floor apartment.

Police reports state responding officers talked with the alleged victim on scene, who told them she met Duncan online and agreed to meet with him at his apartment for a massage in exchange for $300.

The woman told police, according to court documents, that once the massage began, “she became so uncomfortable with Duncan that she wanted to leave, and that is when she put her pants back on.” The details of why her pants were off is not explained by the woman in the police report.

Police reported the alleged victim claimed Duncan demanded his money back and when she attempted to leave, he allegedly grabbed her by the neck. Police said a scuffle ensued, at which point she pepper sprayed Duncan’s upper body and face in what she told police was an attempt to escape the apartment.

According to police reports, the alleged victim accused Duncan of then pulling on her and “striking her with closed fists” as she made her way to the apartment’s door, which she was able to open.

Outside the door at that moment was another tenant of the Ayer Lofts, Richard Wallbank, who ventured out of his fourth-floor apartment to investigate the commotion he heard coming from Duncan’s apartment.

Wallbank told The Sun days after the alleged incident that he had been inside his apartment with his fiancée when he heard a woman upstairs screaming for help. Wallbank called 911 as he made his way to the source of the screaming, which brought him to Duncan’s door.

“I began kicking and banging on the door as loud as I could, and screaming for them to open up,” Wallbank said.

Wallbank recalls the door flung open, at which point he was met with what he described as “10 to 15 seconds of chaos.”

According to Wallbank, he witnessed what he said was a “young woman” being struck and grabbed at by Duncan as she tried to pull herself out of the apartment. Wallbank described Duncan’s eyes during the confrontation as “crazy.”

Wallbank said he forced himself between the pair, allowing the woman to get away.

“When he let her go and he saw me, he started yelling to me and pointing to her, telling me she had stolen from him and robbed him,” Wallbank said.

Wallbank recalls Duncan allegedly kicking some of the woman’s belongings into the hallway and then closing the door. According to Wallbank, the young woman had torn clothing, was missing a shoe, had red marks on her body, and was “crying her eyes out.”

“I thought she looked like she had been wrestling someone,” Wallbank said.

Throughout the encounter in Duncan’s doorway, Wallbank was on the phone with 911 dispatch.

Police reports state moments after the alleged incident, police on scene attempted to make contact with Duncan in his apartment, but he initially refused to answer his door. After approximately 30 minutes of waiting, police reports state officers heard the apartment’s shower turn on. Approximately 10 minutes after that, police said they asked Duncan to come to the door, to which he responded he needed a few more minutes.

Police reported when Duncan finally opened the door and allowed them inside, the apartment had a strong odor of pepper spray and appeared to have been straightened up. Police also reported observing a sneaker and an earring on the floor next to the bed — both items reportedly left in the apartment by the alleged victim.

According to police reports, Duncan told police he had ordered an escort for $300 from the website Skip the Game. Police said Duncan told them he gave her the money upon her arrival and she began to massage him on his bed. He told police she then suddenly ended the massage and started to get dressed, at which point an argument over money ensued.

“He stated that he first grabbed her bag as she left to get the money back, but when she continued to refuse and fight, he grabbed her arm, and the two struggled,” police reports state.

Duncan told police she then removed pepper spray from her bag and sprayed him in the face, at which point he allowed the woman to leave his apartment.

Duncan was taken into custody and arraigned in Lowell District Court the following morning. He was held on $5,000 cash bail, which was posted the same day.

Wallbank expressed concern about the alleged crime committed by Duncan on a private Facebook group available to residents of the Ayer Lofts.

Duncan responded to Wallbank’s post, apologizing for “any stress or concern” the incident may have caused.

“It was a disturbing situation for me as well,” Duncan said in the post. “I’m glad you came when you heard her screaming but she was never in any danger and the woman did something to me she should not do.”

Wallbank claimed in his original post that he witnessed Duncan strike, beat and drag the woman. Duncan denied the allegations in his response.

“The court will settle what happened and the consequences for both our actions,” Duncan posted. “I wish no harm upon her or anyone else. Everyone is safe around me.”

In July, when asked about any potential impacts the allegations could have on Andrew Duncan’s status with Enterprise Bank, Matthew Coggins, the bank’s senior vice president and marketing and corporate communications officer, said Enterprise Bank does not comment on personnel matters.

Andrew Duncan has deferred comment about the case to his attorney. He was initially represented by attorney Roland Milliard, who has since been replaced by DiStefano, of the Todd & Weld law firm, based in Boston.

Court documents state the felony charge of kidnapping carries a potential sentence of up to a decade in prison, or 2 years in the house of correction and a fine of up to $1,000. Assault and battery includes a possible punishment of no more than two and a half years in the house of correction and a fine not to exceed $1,000.

Follow Aaron Curtis on Twitter @aselahcurtis