A Cambridge man is facing criminal charges and a woman was treated at the hospital after police allege he assaulted the woman and threatened her with a hatchet and shotgun.

Erik S. Bickmore, 22, of Cambridge, was arrested Sunday on charges of domestic violence assault, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and obstructing the report of a crime.

The arrest came after police got a domestic violence complaint from a Cambridge woman, saying that Bickmore assaulted her with his hands, causing bruises, cuts and abrasions to her body, according to a press release from Chief Deputy Dale Lancaster of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department.

He also threatened the woman with a hatchet and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, according to Lancaster. Bickmore damaged a telephone to prevent the woman from calling for help, and also threatened to hurt her family if she went to police, he said.

A family member helped the woman to escape from the house and brought her to a hospital, where her injuries were treated and she was released.

“It is our belief that this is not the first incident of a domestic violence assault between the victim and Bickmore,” said Lancster in the release. “This was a very volatile situation and had the potential to end badly.”

Bickmore is in custody at the Somerset County Jail. Bail is set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 in property.

While police were searching his home they also located and seized 35 marijuana plants and charged Bickmore with cultivating marijuana.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.