Hamden Police Make Arrests in Two Attempted Strangulations Tuesday

Two Hamden men are facing strangulation charges after they were arrested in separate incidents Tuesday.

The first happened at about 1 p.m. at 30 Homestead Avenue residence, according to Hamden Police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith.

There, a 21-year-old woman was attacked after she got into an argument with her fiancée, Lavias Phillips, 22, who lives at the residence, Smith said.

"The altercation became physical when Phillips punched her in the head several times and then 'choked' her to the point that she couldn’t breathe," Smith said in a release Wednesday. "Phillips then took her cell phone and attempted to leave the residence." 

Officers Joseph Liguori and Derick Manning arrested him, Smith said. The victim had injuries to her face and neck.

Phillips was charged with second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was held in lieu of $5,000 bond and is being arraigned today in Meriden Superior Court.

About two hours later, another call came in regarding a domestic dispute on Dixwell Avenue, Smith said.

"Officer Michael Nawrocki discovered the 40-year-old female victim lying on the floor in a fetal position. She was surrounded by several chunks of her hair,." Smith said.

The woman had been trying to move out of the apartment at 1360 Dixwell Ave., which enraged her boyfriend, Octavio Gonzalez, 29, Smith said.

"Gonzalez repeatedly punched her in the face and then began choking her while verbally threatening to kill her, Smith said. The victim sustained facial and neck injuries.

Gonzalez was charged with second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was held on $10,000.00 bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Meriden today, Smith said.