SAXONBURG — A Sarver man is in Butler County Prison and facing assault charges after allegedly attacking a woman while drunk and asking her to stab and slash him.

Eric B. Berger, 38, of 237 Moorehead Road has been charged with one count of aggravated assault, which is a felony, and one count of simple assault, a misdemeanor, after allegedly attacking the woman at about 12:32 a.m. Sept. 30, at a home on the 200 block of West Main Street in Saxonburg.

Saxonburg police say that Berger came to the home drunk that night and demanded that the woman make him something to eat. When she did, police said, Berger told the woman that her cooking was bad, sparking an argument that escalated into a physical attack during which Berger hit and choked the woman.

Police said at one point Berger stopped assaulting the woman and handed her a knife, telling her that he wanted her to cut and stab him.

The woman refused and put the knife down, police said, and Berger began to “get physical” with her again. This time, however, the woman was able to get to her cell phone and call 911, prompting Berger to flee the home through the back door.

Police said they arrived at the home that night to find Berger gone and the woman's neck, throat and left ear badly bruised.

Berger was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Sue Haggerty and remains in Butler County Prison on $10,000 monetary bail.