Richard Ripper

EVANS CITY — Police arrested a borough man Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted a woman late last month, throwing her down a stairway several times and pushing her out of his residence into sub-zero cold.

The alleged victim told police Jan. 31 she had been assaulted by Richard James Ripper, 49, of Evans City, at his borough residence the night before.

She told officers she was at a bar with Ripper when he told her he was leaving around 8:30 p.m. She returned to his house about 15 minutes later, closed and locked the door and went to bed. She said she assumed Ripper was inside the house. She woke up at around 9:30 p.m. to Ripper banging on the locked door to be let in, documents state.

She told officers that an argument ensued that ended with Ripper allegedly grabbing her by the arm and hair and throwing her down the stairs of the home. He then reportedly followed her down the steps and threw her out of the house with no shoes or coat in sub-zero temperatures, documents state. She said she then went back into the house to get her belongings, and Ripper again threw her down the stairs, documents state.

The victim finally took her coat and shoes and left the residence. She reported seeing Ripper banging his head against the bedroom door as she left.

By midnight, she was back in her own home, also in the borough.

In the morning, she told police that she saw the extent of her injuries and decided to report the attack.

Police arrested Ripper on Tuesday and charged him with assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. He is being held in the Butler County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19.