Cheyenne Man Pulls Sword on Girlfriend, Strangles Her Over Fight About Haircut

A Cheyenne transient was arrested Friday evening after police say he threatened his girlfriend with a short sword and strangled her until she passed out.

Cheyenne Police Department spokesman Sergeant John Gay says officers were called to 215 East 20th Street around 6:30 p.m. Friday.

"Forty-one-year-old Michael Norwood and his live-in girlfriend had been living in a camping trailer parked in the area," said Gay. "The victim wanted to leave with a friend to get a haircut, but Norwood wouldn't let her go."

Gay says when Norwood's girlfriend asked him to stop blocking the door so she could leave he pulled out a short sword and threatened her.

"He tapped the tip of the blade against her chest, but he didn't inflict any injury," said Gay.

"She grabbed her purse and started to walk out the door," Gay added.  "He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back inside the trailer and put his right arm around her mouth and neck and squeezed tightly."

Gay says the woman bit Norwood trying to get away, but he continued to squeeze her neck so that she couldn't speak or breathe.

"She saw spots, felt herself urinate in her pants and then black out," said Gay. "She woke up on the trailer and he let her change her clothes and told her to get out."

Norwood was arrested for aggravated assault, strangulation of a household member and domestic battery. Gay says he also had a misdemeanor warrant out for his arrest.