Las Cruces police arrested a man suspected of arguing with and strangling his girlfriend while he held their 17-day-old daughter in a chest-mounted baby carrier.
Raymond Lonergan, 31, of the 800 block of Alamo Street, is charged with one third-degree felony count of child abuse, a third-degree felony count of aggravated battery against a household member, and misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property and interference with communications.
Officers were dispatched to the report of a domestic dispute at the couple’s residence about noon on Monday, May 27. Investigators learned that Lonergan and his girlfriend were arguing over a $30 neck brace that would help support their 17-day-old daughter’s head while she’s in a chest-mounted baby carrier.
Investigators learned that, while Lonergan carried their daughter in the carrier, he began calling his girlfriend disparaging names. The woman told police she tried to call Lonergan’s mother, but Lonergan grabbed her cell phone and smashed it to the ground outside their apartment.
The woman told investigators that she retrieved the broken cell phone and went back into the home where she tried to call police. With their daughter still in the baby carrier, Lonergan allegedly followed his girlfriend into a bedroom, shoved his girlfriend onto the bed, got on top of her, placed his left forearm across her throat and strangled her. He’s also accused of placing his fingers in her mouth which made it difficult for his girlfriend to breathe.
After a short while, Lonergan took both phones outside and shattered them against the ground. Officers arrived shortly thereafter and located Lonergan inside the home where he was detained. Investigators interviewed Lonergan who corroborated most of the allegations made against him.
Lonergan was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s initially being held without bond.