A New Castle man was arrested and charged just after midnight Wednesday in West Sunbury for allegedly beating, strangling and threatening his girlfriend.

Julian W. Hood, 36, was charged by state police with one felony count of strangulation and three misdemeanor charges, including one count of simple assault, one of harassment and one of terroristic threats.After his arrest, police took Hood to Butler County Prison. As of Thursday morning, he was in jail in lieu of $35,000 bail.According to charging documents, police were dispatched at 11:55 p.m. Tuesday to a reported domestic assault on Main Street in West Sunbury.Police said they talked with Hood's girlfriend, who told them he hit her in the face several times with a closed fist before slamming her to the ground and choking her.“(The victim) said that while choking her, Hood threatened to kill her,” said the investigating officer in the affidavit.Police said they also noticed swelling around the victim's eyes that was turning black and blue, and redness around her neck.Hood's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. March 16 before District Judge Lewis Stoughton.Hood has a second hearing scheduled one hour before for an additional case filed Thursday from the incident.According to the affidavit for the second case, while investigating, the victim told police Hood had taken her vehicle without her permission.Police said they later found the white 2008 Hyundai Sante Fe parked near West Sunbury Presbyterian Church.The documents said prison officers later reported finding Hyundai keys on Hood during transport.In the second case, Hood has been charged with a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Julian W. Hood