Craig Alan Kovacic

An attempt to borrow a vehicle turned into a felony arrest for a Center Township man.

Craig Alan Kovacic, 33, is charged with second-degree felony strangulation, as well as misdemeanor simple assault and summary harassment after he responded to being denied permission to use a car by twice picking the owner up by their neck and slamming them into the ground, according to state police.

According to an affidavit filed by state police Cpl. Michael Lewis, Kovacic asked to borrow the victim's car, but the victim declined to give him the keys. It turned into an argument, which then turned physical, the affidavit said. Kovacic allegedly picked the victim up by their neck on the porch and threw them “into a pile of boxes.”

Kovacic continued into the driveway, according to police, and the victim followed him. At that point, police said, Kovacic again picked the victim up by the neck, threw them into the ground and pinned them to the ground by their throat.

Police said Kovacic became aggressive and irate, and claim he began yelling at police when they arrived on scene.

Kovacic “then began yelling that he assaulted the victim and (to) just take him to jail,” the affidavit stated.

He remains in Butler County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.