Nazareth Man Allegedly Slams Girlfriend's Head into Window

An alarm went off over the weekend at a Nazareth building that houses a jewelry store and another business, but it wasn’t because of an attempted jewel theft.

Court records say a borough man fighting with his girlfriend slammed her head into a storefront window at 43 Belvidere St., causing the jewelry store’s alarm to activate.

The woman had just spit in the face of the suspect, Richard Glen K. Gotterup, 32, when he struck her in the face with an open hand and slammed her head into the window, the records say.

Police learned of the alleged incident after arriving at Gotterup’s address, 172 S. Main St., around 3:33 a.m. Saturday. A woman identified as Gotterup’s sister told police Gotterup and his girlfriend, Kristen E. Agnew, were having an “altercation,” the records say. A short time later, the suspect left the house, telling police he and his girlfriend were arguing but that everything was “fine.”

Police then spoke to Agnew, who said she and Gotterup were walking around Nazareth and that he was yelling at her and “getting into her face.” She walked away and the suspect pulled on her coat, swung her into a fence, pushed her onto the ground and dragged her across the pavement, the records say.

She ran away but Gotterup caught up with her and pushed her onto a bench. She spit in his face when she was able to get up and that led to the suspect slamming her head into the window, the records say.

The records do not identify the businesses at 43 Belvidere St. -- they only list the address. But an Internet search shows that the address houses and Lehigh Valley Interior.

Gotterup was arraigned before District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor and charged with simple assault -- domestic violence, harassment -- domestic violence, subject to other physical contact, and disorderly conduct -- engage in fighting, domestic violence. He was sent to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $10,000 bail.