Police say she tried to flee with her two children -- only to be dragged back inside their home.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Police say that a woman whose estranged husband was assaulting her tried to flee with her two children early Monday morning -- only to be dragged back inside their home.

But the oldest child, an 8-year-old girl, got away and ran to a neighbor's home for help, said Police Maj. Tina Goncalves.

As the neighbor called 911, Christopher Ertle, 39, grabbed his wife and shoved her into their car so they could go looking for the missing girl, Goncalves said. When they didn't find her, the couple returned to the house on Halliday Street, where police officers were waiting for them, the major said.

Although the couple was estranged, the wife had allowed Ertle to stay over that night, Goncalves said. They argued and then Ertle assaulted her, Goncalves said. Then, Ertle took a handgun out of a safe, pointed it at his wife and said she couldn't leave him, the major said.

She grabbed their children and tried to flee.

Police arrested Ertle on seven charges: domestic felony assault, domestic kidnapping, domestic assault by strangulation, using a firearm while committing a violent crime, not having a license to carry a pistol, domestic disorderly conduct, and refusing to relinquish the phone. Goncalves said police also seized Ertle's firearms.

Ertle was arraigned Monday at District Court, where a judge set bail at $100,000 with surety and issued a no-contact order. He remained held at the Adult Correctional Institutions on Wednesday.