A Butler man is accused of strangling and assaulting his wife during a weekend domestic dispute at their home.

City police arrested James E. Ehlinger, 26, on a felony and other charges stemming from the alleged incident that began early Saturday morning at their apartment on the 700 block of South Main Street.

The 25-year-old victim told police that between 1:30 and 2 a.m. she and the defendant got into an argument, according to court documents. When she tried to leave with her 2-year-old daughter, Ehlinger blocked the door.

She recounted that he shoved her against the wall and then threw her onto a couch, police said. He “placed his hands around her throat with such force,” according to charging documents, “that her breathing was inhibited.”

Police said the victim told them she was too afraid to leave the apartment because of what Ehlinger might do to her.

Later, while she was in bed with her daughter, documents said, Ehlinger allegedly sat on his wife and pushed her head toward the wall. She said she was afraid that her daughter might be harmed by her husband's actions.

That afternoon, the woman made it to a nearby apartment to get away from Ehlinger. But he allegedly went there and at some point pushed his way into the doorway without the tenant's permission to be at the home.

Ehlinger was arraigned on a felony charge of strangulation and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint, three counts of simple assault and defiant trespass. He also is charged with summary harassment.

He was placed in the Butler County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bond. Online court records did not indicate if he has an attorney.