MIAMI – A 45-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after he attacked a woman at the Lotus House women’s shelter in Miami, authorities said.
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According to an arrest report, the incident began as a fight between the victim and another tenant, Maria Pavan, 56, inside the common area of the shelter, located at 217 NW 15th St.
Police said Pavan initiated the fight, which spilled into the hallway.
According to the report, two witnesses separated the two women, during which time Christian Hernandez-Diaz, of Miami, grabbed the victim by the neck and pushed her against a wall.
“While holding the victim against the wall, (Hernandez-Diaz) raised the victim off the floor, still in control of (the) victim’s neck,” the report stated.
Police said the victim told them she couldn’t breathe while Hernandez-Diaz was choking her.
According to the report, the victim had visible bruising to her chest and neck and had a scratch on the right side of her face.
It’s unclear why the two women were fighting to begin with, and Hernandez-Diaz’s relationship with the two women was not confirmed in the arrest report.
According to the report, Hernandez-Diaz was located by police in the backyard of the Lotus House.
He refused to speak with officers and was arrested at the scene.
He faces a charge of battery by strangulation while Pavan faces a battery charge.
As of Thursday afternoon, Hernandez-Diaz was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $2,500 bond, while Pavan was being held at TGK on a $1,000 bond.