An arrest warrant has been issued for a Butler Township man accused of strangling and beating his girlfriend.

Butler Township Police filed charges Monday against Samuel M. Rupp, 35, including felony strangulation and misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and simple assault.

According to charging documents, a passerby reported to Butler County 911 around 3:17 p.m. Sunday that they picked up an injured woman along Whitestown Road.

Police said the woman, later identified as Rupp’s girlfriend, was taken to the police station for a brief interview before being taken to a hospital for treatment of her injuries. Police said they interviewed her a second time at the hospital.

“During the second interview, (the woman’s) left eye was swollen completely shut with black and blue bruising,” police said in the affidavit. “She complained of her head and foot being in pain and could barely stand due to the pain in her foot.”

Police said the woman had been living with Rupp for the past six months, and said during that time he had been abusive, especially when he was drinking. She told police he had been drinking Sunday, too, leading up to the incident, and so she went outside to the home’s porch to allow him to calm down.

“Rupp went outside and began antagonizing her by calling her names,” police said.

Police said Rupp then began choking the woman, who claimed she could not breathe because of his grip. She told police he also told her nobody cared about her and threatened to kill her.

“Rupp said that he was going to bury her in the backyard,” police said.

The woman told police Rupp then began beating her, punching her in the head and torso. She told police Rupp tackled her to the ground and continued hitting her.

“She began screaming for help and didn’t get any,” police said.

Police said they went to Rupp’s home later that day to speak with him, but he had either left the home or did not answer the door. Police did not have a warrant for his arrest at that time.

Following Rupp’s arrest, he will be arraigned, issued a bail amount and scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Kevin O’Donnell.