Christian Anderson Butler (Cushing PD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A 30-year-old man accused of choking and hitting an older relative while he was staying in her Cushing home has been ordered to appear in court on June 23 on a two-count domestic violence charge.
Christian Anderson Butler, who previously lived in Oklahoma City, was released from the Payne County Jail on April 15 on $7,500 bond with an order to have no contact with his relative, court records show. He could be incarcerated for 11 years and fined $25,000 if convicted of both counts.
Butler had been arrested at 2:05 am on March 25 at the victim’s home about 24 minutes after police were called, according to an affidavit by Cushing Police Officer Heather Snow.
While Officer Alex Gegen was speaking to Butler outside, “I went inside to speak with the female. (She) appeared to be in pain and winded; she was sitting on her couch. I took photos of her visible injuries, skinned up elbows and knees and her face, which was already starting to swell,” Officer Snow wrote in her affidavit.
She said that “Christian had been staying with her for approximately three months. She advised that he had been drinking and that she had been asking him to turn down his music. (She) said that she knew he had been drinking because he always gets loud whenever he drinks.
“(She) stated that Christian had shoved her, and she tried to push back, but she ended up on the ground, and he had somehow grabbed her arms, started to choke her with his arms across her neck and chest area. (She) said Christian also hit her in the face.
“Cushing EMS arrived to evaluate (her), and she was advised to go to the ER at the Hillcrest Hospital in Cushing, due to the fact that she advised Christian had also hit her head onto the floor multiple times.
“Officer Wright informed me that Christian admitted to having pushed (her) down but did not fully remember how he had done all the hitting and grabbing. Officer Wright also informed me that it appeared Christian had nail scratches on him.
“I had Officer Wright take photos of Christian with my department issued cellphone. I also took photos of the area in the kitchen/living room area where the altercation took place. (She) stated that the vodka bottle by the front door was Christian’s. I asked (her) if she wished to press charges on Christian, and she advised she did want to.
“(She) had a family member transport her to HHC ER. I transported and booked in Christian at Cushing PD. Officer Wright gave (her) a written statement form to fill out while at the ER. Sgt. Piatt had also given her a Wings of Hope Domestic Violence information card,” Officer Snow alleged in her affidavit.
In a petition for a protective order that was granted, the victim alleged that at about midnight on March 24 “as I was getting ready for bed, Christian had his phone up loud and was talking and singing loud. I had gotten up to tell him he needed to settle down and be quiet. He got a little quiet but then had gotten loud again. That’s when I realized he was drunk.
“I asked if he was drinking, and he said no, but the room smelled like liquor. That’s when I told him he needed to leave. In order for him to stay with me that was one thing he was not supposed to do. I kept telling him he needed to leave. He sat on the bed and started saying random things.
“I grabbed his wallet and phone and set them outside so he would leave. I was thinking once he was outside, I could lock the door. When I went to do this, he put his body in the way and pushed his way in. That is when we both started pulling on each other. I had already called (another relative) to come over to get him out before the fighting.
“I managed to get him on the floor and was trying to keep him from escalating the situation. He managed to get up and push me to the floor and then he sat on me. I got him off for a minute.
“He got me back down on the floor and put his arm across my neck and started choking me. I may have scratched him to get him off for a second, but then he hit me in the face twice. I then crawled to the living room with him on me. That is when he started to choke me again.
“He stopped and grabbed my head and started pummeling it into the floor. At that time (another relative) had shown up but was not able to get into the door. I guess Chris had locked it when he pushed his way in. Police were called to the scene.
“I feel I need this protective order because I didn’t think anything like this would happen, and I do not want him around me again since I can’t trust him and don’t feel like home is safe with him there.”
