Police
arrested a man suspected of strangling his pregnant girlfriend and not allowing
her to leave their home on Tuesday evening.
Daniel
Madrid, 20, of the 1300 block of south Almendra Street, is charged with three
third-degree felony counts of aggravated battery against a household member, a
fourth-degree felony count of false imprisonment, and misdemeanor counts of
interference with communications and battery.
Las
Cruces police investigators learned Madrid and his girlfriend, who is 8-months
pregnant, began arguing about 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9. At some point the
argument turned physical. Madrid allegedly prevented the woman from leaving
their home and forcefully held her down.
Investigators
learned the woman was able to leave the residence and sought help at a
neighbor’s apartment. Madrid allegedly followed, grabbed her from behind with
his arm around her neck and restricted her breathing by covering her nose and
mouth with his free hand. The woman broke free and ran across a roadway where
she obtained help and called 911.
A
Las Cruces police officer located and detained Madrid nearby.
Madrid
was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s initially being
held without bond.