Gary Bishop Jr.

A Butler man is accused of strangling and punching his girlfriend during a domestic dispute Tuesday at their apartment on the 500 block of West Cunningham Street.

City police arrested 49-year-old Gary J. Bishop Jr. after the incident shortly before 9:30 p.m. Officers found him at the intersection of West New Castle Street and Wylie Avenue wearing pajama bottoms.

District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned Bishop on a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $5,000 bond following arraignment.

Police said a 911 call for a disturbance sent them to the defendant's home. When officers arrived, they spoke to two men and a woman in the parking lot. The trio told officers they saw a man hitting a woman in the entryway of the apartment, according to authorities.

Witnesses reported the suspect had already fled, and mentioned he was wearing plaid pajama pants.

Police said they spoke to the 49-year-old victim, who they described as being “visibly shaken. She had bruising on her left cheek.

Charging documents reveal the woman told investigators that during an argument in the apartment Bishop bit her on the cheek under the eye. The altercation then moved into the hallway where she said the defendant dragged her down the stairs by the neck.

While dragging her, she said, Bishop's arm was around her throat and her breathing was impeded for several seconds. She also accused the defendant of punching her several times in the chest and shoulders.

Officers searched for and subsequently found Bishop, arresting him without incident.

His preliminary hearing is set April 27. Online court records did not list an attorney for him.