Police
arrested a man suspected of strangling his girlfriend and taking away her cell
phone during a domestic disturbance.
Jonathan
Scott Kerr, 39, of the 1500 block of Martha Drive, is charged with a
third-degree felony count of aggravated battery against a household member.
He’s also charged with a misdemeanor count of interference with communication.
Sometime
after midnight on Wednesday, April 17, Las Cruces police were dispatched to a
domestic disturbance at the home Kerr shares with his girlfriend.
Officers
arrived at the home to find Kerr blocking the doorway. He was also hesitant to
let his girlfriend leave the home or speak with officers. After a short time,
officers were able to take Kerr into custody and speak with his girlfriend.
Investigators
learned that at some point early this morning, the woman woke Kerr to help look
for her dog that was missing. The woman indicated Kerr became upset and started
yelling obscenities at her.
As
they drove around the neighborhood, looking for the dog, Kerr allegedly grabbed
his girlfriend’s neck and squeezed to the point she nearly lost consciousness.
The woman tried to call police, but Kerr allegedly took away her cell phone.
Kerr allegedly grabbed his girlfriend’s neck three times during the incident.
Investigators
interviewed Kerr who corroborated the woman’s account of what occurred.
Kerr
was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially
being held without bond.