Minden man in jail for trying to strangle girlfriend

By Bonnie Culverhouse

Keeping his girlfriend against her will landed a local man in jail Monday.

Alexander Gonzalez, 24, of the 1000 block of Shreveport Rd., Minden, was arrested by Minden Police and charged with domestic abuse battery with strangulation and false imprisonment – both felonies.

Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper said Ofc. Christopher Cayer was patrolling in the Shreveport Rd. area when he was flagged down by the manager at a local motel.

“The manager told the officer that the victim was being imprisoned at her camper trailer by her boyfriend, identified as Gonzalez,” Cropper said. “The manager also stated the victim was being physically beaten by Gonzalez.”

When Ofc. Cayer arrived on scene, Gonzalez and the female victim were reportedly standing outside of the camper trailer.

“The officer reported that he could see visible lacerations and bruising around the female’s neck,” said the chief. “So the officer had her step to the back of his patrol unit, where he could question her.”

The victim reportedly told the officer that Gonzalez had refused to let her leave their camper trailer all day.

“Anytime she attempted to leave, Gonzalez would place his hands around her neck or grab her arms to force her to stay at the camper,” Cropper said. “She said that at one point, she lost consciousness while he was choking her. She also said Gonzalez struck her arms and left leg in an attempt to force her to stay.”

Gonzalez was booked at the Minden Police Department and transferred to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.