A Northampton man is behind bars for allegedly attempting to strangle his wife.

Andrew Kratzer, 30, faces charges of strangulation and simple assault.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Detective Glenn Deist of the Northampton Borough Police Department:

Police responded to a home in the 1800 block of Lincoln Avenue in Northampton.

Upon arrival, they found the female victim at her in-laws’ residence.

Officers observed injury to her, and the victim was transported to St. Luke’s University Hospital, Bethlehem Campus.

Deist was called at home and requested to respond to the hospital to interview the victim.

Upon arrival, Deist introduced himself to the victim and her in-laws, who were in the room with her.

The victim first said that she and her husband had been out drinking and that she had let the dog out and it got lost. Kratzer got angry and they started arguing.

The victim said she didn’t know what happened and that she didn’t want Kratzer charged.

Deist informed the victim that neither she nor the police have a choice due to the injury to her face.

Deist took pictures, and in doing so, the father-in-law told her she has to do something, that his son cannot continue to do this.

Deist attempted to ask the victim more, but she said that she didn’t know what it really started over and that she thought she may have passed out from Kratzer choking her.

Deist noticed swelling and redness around the victim’s right eye, and the right side of her lip was puffy.

The victim’s father-in-law said that she told him his son had wrapped his arm around her neck from behind and was punching her in the face.

The victim did not deny his statement.

Kratzer is currently incarcerated in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Kratzer is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18 before District Judge Robert Hawke of Walnutport.