A man is accused of pulling an ex-girlfriend into his truck in Butler County, punching and biting her, and taking her to Bedford County against her will.

During the 125-mile trip Sunday night, state police said, Joseph Karl Dykes Jr., 35, of Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, also allegedly choked the victim and threatened to kill her.

State police in Bedford arrested Dykes Monday at a convenience store after the victim, a 29-year-old Jefferson Township woman, was able to get help.

Dykes is being held in the Bedford County Jail on charges filed by state police in Butler in an arrest warrant. Those charges are kidnapping and strangulation, both felonies,

He also is charged with terroristic threats and simple assault, both misdemeanors, and harassment, a summary.

Troopers in Butler said their investigation began around 9:25 p.m. Sunday when they received a request for a welfare check on the victim.

The caller, a man, told police he received a Facebook video call from the woman. He described her as being “distressed” and “crying,” police said.

The man also recounted that he saw Dykes holding the phone while he had the victim in a headlock, police said.

Troopers arrived at the woman's home shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday. Several lights were on and the back door was ajar, but police got no response from inside.

Police peeked in a window and noticed what looked like blood on the floor and bed. Items in the house also appeared to have been thrown about.

Troopers entered the house, but found no one. They later sought a search warrant for the home.

At 1:15 a.m. Monday, investigators got a call from state police in Bedford advising that they had Dykes detained at a Sheetz convenience store.

“The victim had been able to request help from an employee at this Sheetz,” according to charging documents. “She advised the employee that the defendant would not let her leave.”

Troopers in Bedford eventually interviewed the woman, who recounted that Dykes picked her up in the Butler area. She said that when she later tried to get out, he grabbed her and pulled her back in.

“He then assaulted her several times,” documents said, “to include striking her, biting her cheek and choking her from behind until arriving at the Sheetz in Bedford.”

She said he also threatened her life.

The woman's injuries, police said, included bruises on her body and a bite mark on her cheek.

Dykes was booked into the Bedford County Jail at 11:24 a.m., jail officials said. It was not immediately known when he would be returned to Butler County.