Calvin McHenry

JEFFERSON TWP — A man is accused of trying to drown his girlfriend in a bathtub during a domestic dispute at their home.

The victim managed to get away, naked, before driving to safety in her car Monday, authorities said.

State police eventually arrested 61-year-old Calvin H. McHenry, who had also driven away. He was allegedly more than 3½ times the legal limit for alcohol.

District Judge William Fullerton arraigned McHenry on felony assault, drunken driving and other charges. The defendant is in the Butler County Prison on $45,000 bail.

The alleged victim, Susan Broman, told police that her boyfriend had been drinking all day and had gone to get more alcohol, according to court documents. He had been arguing with her, too, the entire day.

She said she went upstairs to “take a bath and relax,” according to a police affidavit.

The defendant returned to their home in the 300 block of Bullcreek Road and soon he was seated on the side of the tub, according to documents. He resumed the argument.

When Broman threatened to call 911, she recounted, he grabbed the telephone out of her hand and tossed it aside.

She screamed, documents said, and he “grabbed her by the throat and began to choke her.”

She tried to fight back, but he “pushed her head under the water and tried to drown her.”

The woman in time pushed him away and made a break for it. She ran out of the house, documents said, grabbing only her purse and car keys.

“She was naked at the time,” the police affidavit noted.

She drove down the road and flagged down a female on a bicycle. The bicyclist called 911.

Trooper David Wellington got to the home and while there, McHenry called his girlfriend. The officer listened in, documents said, and heard the defendant admit that he “couldn't believe he did all those things.”

During the phone call he also expressed regret for having threatened to kill Broman, documents said. The suspect eventually returned home and was arrested.

A breath test later showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.293 percent. A level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated under state law.

McHenry is charged with aggravated assault, driving under the influence, terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and careless driving.