By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — A city man was arrested on assault and other charges after he allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and attacked her and the couple’s young daughter during a violent confrontation on Monday night.

According to Pawtucket Police Patrolman Rui Silva, several police officers responded to a 911 call for a disturbance in an apartment at 59 Potter St. at around 11:54 p.m. The 23-year-old victim met police outside the house and told them that her ex-boyfriend, identified as Stephen C. Cooper, forcefully entered her apartment and began acting violently toward her and the daughter they have in common. She told police that Cooper was still inside the apartment and was in possession of a knife.
Cooper’s mother, who was also on the scene, told police she had received a phone call from the victim, asking her to come and help. She told police that her son had refused her attempts to get him to leave the apartment. She also told police that Cooper has a history of violent behavior and psychiatric disorders.
Sgt. Manuel Maciel and Sgt. Dino Giorgio began a dialogue with Cooper to persuade him to leave the apartment. After a short while, he came out through the front door and was taken into custody without incident. He was handcuffed and transported to Pawtucket Memorial Hospital for treatment.
The victim later told police that she had broken up with Cooper due to his behavior and had been ignoring his numerous attempts to talk to her by cell phone and text messages. She said that in Cooper’s last text message, he had warned her that if she continued to ignore him, he was “going to go over there and work this out.”
The victim said that Cooper arrived a short time later and began to bang at and kick at her door when she refused to let him in. He then kicked in the door by breaking the frame and putting a hole in the door.
The victim said that Cooper walked in and began yelling at her and threatening her, and then started punching her in the face. She said she managed to escape, grabbing some belongings and their daughter, but he grabbed her by the throat and began punching her again. She said she ran from him again, but fell on the living room floor, where Cooper began kicking her. She said that during this attack, he accidentally kicked their daughter in the face.
During the assault, the victim told police that Cooper told her she “better keep quiet if the police arrive or he will kill her, then him.”
After Cooper was taken into custody, police found a knife that he had allegedly left on the kitchen table. However, the victim said that he had not used the knife at all during the incident.
Police said the victim had received numerous bruises to her arms and face and the child had a visible bruise to her face. Both mother and daughter were transported to the Memorial Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Cooper, of 45 Patt St., Apt. 3, was charged with domestic breaking and entering of a dwelling when the resident is home, domestic—simple assault, domestic—disorderly conduct, and simple assault, police said.