Bradley Cramer

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — A Summit Township man is accused of strangling his girlfriend and threatening her with a box cutter-style knife Thursday after she confronted him about his drug use at her apartment, authorities said.

State police arrested 30-year-old Bradley S. Cramer on felony assault and other charges. He is in the Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail.

The woman's screams for help during a 911 call around 1:40 p.m. sent troopers to the University Village at Slippery Rock, an off-campus apartment complex in Slippery Rock Township not affiliated with Slippery Rock University.

Cramer and the woman were both there when troopers arrived. She told police she found the defendant at her home lying face down with “a stamp bag of heroin” in his cigarette pack, according to investigators.

She confronted him about using drugs and he allegedly shoved her onto the bed. When she told him she was going to call his probation officer about the drugs, he allegedly put his arm around her neck.

According to court documents, Cramer “lifted her off the ground by her neck, causing her to be unable to breathe.”

She told police Cramer pulled out a knife resembling a box cutter and held it against her neck, warning her, “If the cops come, I'm slicing your face wide open, so no one else will want you.”

Police said Cramer threatened to kill himself and began to hit his head on the wall and a concrete sidewalk when officers advised him he was under arrest. He allegedly called the troopers derogatory names and pulled away as they tried to arrest him.

Cramer was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries. Authorities said he later tried to contact the victim from the hospital and had to be forcefully removed from the facility.

District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned him on felony charges of aggravated assault and strangulation. He is also charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.