Louis Nesbitt

WINFIELD TWP — A township man is accused of holding a butter knife to his wife's neck and strangling her during a domestic dispute at their home on Bicker Road, authorities said.

State police later arrested 35-year-old Louis E. Nesbitt in connection with the alleged assault Saturday afternoon.

District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned Nesbitt on Sunday on felony charges of aggravated assault and strangulation and misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, simple assault and reckless endangerment.

He also is charged with summary counts of harassment and defiant trespass.

Nesbitt is free on $25,000 bail.

Police said they were called for the domestic dispute around 4 p.m. The woman, according to court documents, recounted that earlier in the morning her husband had kicked her several times and slapped her face during an argument.

The woman left the home to attend a funeral. After she returned, police said, she and the defendant began to argue again.

Nesbitt is accused of grabbing his wife by the neck and placing her in a “choke hold,” documents said, which impeded her breathing.

While still holding the victim, the defendant “placed a butter knife to her neck, stating that he was going to kill her,” according to a police affidavit.

At some point, police said, Nesbitt also threatened her with a larger knife.

Troopers said the defendant fled the scene before they got there. He walked to a nearby property on Russell Drive. The property owner confronted the suspect, who allegedly elbowed the other man in the nose, causing minor injuries.

Nesbitt's preliminary hearing is scheduled Jan. 16 at the office of District Judge Sue Haggerty in Saxonburg.