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Police: man broke into home and threatened woman with plate shard

 
Published May 24, 2014

PINELLAS PARK -- Police are looking for a man they say broke into a woman's home Friday, choked her and threatened to kill her with a shard from a broken plate.

Pinellas Park police said Richard Butts, 27, kicked in the side door of a home in the 3900 block of 78th Avenue N. He grabbed Christine Davis, 25, by the throat and threw her to the ground, authorities said. Butts then broke a ceramic plate against the floor and took a piece to Davis' throat, saying he would kill her, police said.

Davis punched Butts and he punched her in the face, authorities said. But she later broke free and called 911.

Butts, who has previously plead no contest to domestic battery, ran away before police arrived.

Police said charges against Butts are pending, and would likely include burglary, violation of an injunction for protection and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.