A Boscawen man was arraigned yesterday on simple assault and criminal trespass charges for allegedly hitting his girlfriend and then fleeing into the woods.

The police said Joshua Hutchins, 19, of 200 King St., was arrested after they were called to a Queen Street residence about 5 p.m. for a report that Hutchins had grabbed his 33-year-old girlfriend by the throat, put her in a headlock and struck her in the head. He then ran into the woods and was eventually arrested after returning to the apartment, which belonged to a friend, about 8:30 p.m., the police said.

A witness told the police that before Hutchins left, he said "he was going to kill himself or a police officer," said Boscawen police Chief Sean Sweeney. The Boscawen police were assisted by the state police, its K-9 unit and the Merrimack County Sheriff's Office.

Hutchins was charged with three misdemeanor counts of simple assault yesterday related to domestic violence and one count of criminal trespass. He was ordered held on $1,000 cash and $3,000 personal recognizance, and he is barred from having contact with the victim or witnesses involved in the case. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 5 in Franklin District Court.