Butler man charged with strangling and wielding knife
Police arrested a Butler man accusing him of attacking his ex-girlfriend at her home.
Butler Police filed charges Thursday against Michael S. Mountain, 55, including felony counts of strangling and victim intimidation, as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault and terroristic threats.
Following Mountain’s arraignment Thursday morning by District Judge Kevin O’Donnell, he was placed in Butler County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bond.
Police said Mountain’s ex-girlfriend called 911 around 10 p.m. Wednesday, requesting police be dispatched to her home. Police said when they arrived, Mountain was not at the home.
The woman told police Mountain had been at her home and became angry when she asked him to leave. The woman claimed Mountain choked her for an unspecified amount of time.
“During this time, Mountain made several direct threats to (the woman) stating that he was going to kill her,” said the investigating officer.
The woman claimed Mountain had stopped choking her but continued to assault her when she told him she was calling the police.
“Before Mountain left, he brandished a pocket knife and poked (the woman) in the left wrist with enough pressure to break the skin,” police said. “Mountain also raked the serrated portion of the knife across the same wrist causing scraping around the effected area.”
Police said Mountain had also sent texts to the woman that they felt were an attempt to intimidate her. According to the affidavit, police described the texts as “vague threats toward her if she were to contact police about this incident.”
Officers found Mountain shortly after speaking with his accuser. Police said when they found him, they found a knife matching the description of the one used in the alleged attack.
Mountain is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge William Fullerton.
