MOORHEAD – A Moorhead man was charged Thursday with assaulting his wife allegedly pretended to be a police officer and choked her when she answered the door.
Ruben Gonzales Jr., 25, faces a felony charge of domestic assault by strangulation, a gross misdemeanor domestic assault charge and a misdemeanor charge of fleeing police.
Gonzales was separated from his wife for several months, but went to her residence Wednesday to “work on their relationship,” according to the criminal complaint filed in Clay County District Court.
Gonzales became intoxicated and choked his wife, threw items at her, and pulled her hair before jumping off her balcony because he feared police were on their way, the complaint says.
When he returned, he buzzed her residence and said, “Moorhead Police Department.” When she opened the door, he choked her again because he “was upset that the victim would let police in,” the complaint says.
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Gonzales was previously convicted of domestic assault on the same victim in 2010, the complaint says.
