A Butler man is accused of attempting to strangle his girlfriend with the woman's young daughter nearby during a domestic dispute this week at his home on Howard Street.

Virgil M. Luster Jr., 39, was arraigned Tuesday on a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. He is free on $5,000 bail.

Butler police said they were called to the home around 8:30 p.m. Monday. The victim told officers that Luster grabbed her by the throat and hair and threw her to the floor, according to court documents.

The altercation reportedly occurred in front of the woman's 5-year-old daughter.

Police spoke to the man, who allegedly admitted to trying to strangle the woman and assaulting her.

The woman's only visible injury, documents noted, was a small cut on her left forearm.

Luster's preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15.