OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — An Oil City man is behind bars after he allegedly attempted to strangle his girlfriend and set their house on fire late Tuesday night.

According to court documents, 37-year-old Michael Amos Ritchey Jr., of Oil City, was arraigned at 3:56 a.m. on Wednesday, December 27, in District Judge Andrew Fish’s office on the following charges:

– Arson-Inhabited Building Or Structure, Felony 1
– Causing Catastrophe, Felony 1
– Strangulation — Applying Pressure to Throat or Neck, Felony 1
– Simple Assault
– Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary

He is lodged in the Venango County Jail.

Bail was denied stating the reason that he is a threat to himself and society, according to court documents.

Ritchey’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 3, 2018.

According to a criminal complaint, Oil City Police Lt. Jonathan Love and other police officers were called to a reported assault at 107 Charlton Street.

The victim said she was assaulted by her boyfriend, Michael Ritchey.

She stated that an argument became physical, and Ritchey punched her in the face, then held her down, and strangled her. She said Ritchey told her she was going to die, according to the complaint.

She got away, and Ritchey chased her across the yard before she ran to a neighbor’s house and got inside, the complaint states.

When police went next door to speak to Ritchey, they could smell smoke and heard a smoke detector going off. Lt. Love knocked on the door. It was ajar, but Ritchey came down the steps, slammed the door shut, and refused to speak with police, the complaint indicates.

Lt. Love then entered the house and saw a hooded jacket on fire. There was also a fire in the bathroom, according to the complaint.

Ritchey then was handcuffed and removed from the house.

Due to the close proximity of the residents in the neighboring house, they were removed from their house, the complaint continues.