A city man was taken into custody after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend multiple times before starting a small fire in their apartment.

Martin Louis Lear Jr., 45, was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on two felony counts of robbery, single felony counts of aggravated assault and arson, single misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, theft and receiving stolen property, as well as a summary count of harassment. He was remanded to the Blair County Prison in lieu of $125,000 bail.

Altoona police responded to an apartment along the 300 block of 11th Street about 8:32 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a physical domestic, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The victim told officers that her boyfriend, Lear, assaulted her multiple times over the past day but had since left their apartment. The victim said Lear began demanding her phone Tuesday morning and tried to take it from her before she left for work. Lear later appeared at the victim’s place of employment and continued to argue with her over the possession of her phone and made threats toward her, the police report states.

When she returned home from work, the victim said she again refused to give her phone to Lear and he began physically fighting her for it. Lear pulled the victim’s hair before using a paring knife to slash the victim’s left hand, causing the victim to drop her phone and Lear to take it into his possession. Officers noted at least three distinct lacerations on the victim’s left hand, the report stated.

The victim told officers about another incident during which Lear wanted access to her phone. She said Lear knocked it out of her hand and, when she bent down to pick it up, Lear kneed her in the face before smacking her in the side of the face. The victim then left the room but heard Lear say he was going to light the residence on fire. Looking into the living room, the victim allegedly saw Lear lighting a shirt on fire within a pile of clothing and letting it burn until the smoke alarm activated, according to the affidavit.

The victim said she told Lear she was going to call the police, which is when Lear fled the residence, taking the victim’s phone with him. The victim was then able to contact 911 with an old phone she had in the apartment. Officers later located Lear along the 1000 block of Sixth Avenue and took him into custody. When searched, the victim’s phone was found on Lear’s person, the report stated.

Lear is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in front of DeAntonio on Dec. 31.