Task Force Arrests Tulsa Man Charged With Assault, Rape

The Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force arrested a Tulsa man Monday, August 13 on charges of raping and beating his girlfriend.

Police say Rodney Merrihew, 50, and the woman got into an argument in May.  During a fight, he sprayed her in the face with air freshener and tried to suffocate her, according to his arrest report.

Police said he also violated her by showing her how he was going to rape, torture and kill her, once she passed out.

Tulsa County jail records show Rodney Merrihew is being held on charges of first-degree rape by instrumentation and domestic assault and battery by strangulation.

Those records also show he has a court appearance set for August 20th.