Prosecutors say a 46-year-old man repeatedly punched and strangled a woman during a Nov. 16 attack; he was arrested March 5 and also faces a charge of battery on a peace officer.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces man is accused of screwing the door of an RV shut to prevent a woman from escaping before repeatedly punching and strangling her during a violent assault in Vado late last year, according to court records.

David Anthony Ramirez, 46, was arrested March 5 by Las Cruces police and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center on charges of aggravated battery against a household member and false imprisonment stemming from the Nov. 16 incident.

According to a statement of probable cause filed in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, the victim told deputies Ramirez attacked her inside his RV at an address on Las Alturas Drive in Vado after accusing her of meeting another man.

The victim told investigators Ramirez screwed the RV’s door shut, preventing her from leaving, and then punched her dozens of times, mostly in the head and face.

She told deputies Ramirez placed her in a chokehold for about 10 seconds until she heard her neck “pop.” The victim said Ramirez also kneed her in the face, stomach and jaw during the assault.

The victim reported pain in her jaw, head and neck after the attack.

During the struggle, the victim told investigators she grabbed a screwdriver and began removing the screws from the door in an effort to escape. She said she accidentally stabbed Ramirez near the eye during the altercation while trying to get free.

The victim eventually escaped from the RV and ran to the property manager’s office to call police.

A responding deputy reported the woman appeared visibly upset and was holding ice to her face when authorities arrived. The deputy said he observed redness on the lower portion of the victim’s neck consistent with strangulation.

The victim was later transported to Three Crosses Regional Hospital, where investigators said she provided a consistent account of the assault.

Authorities attempted to contact Ramirez at the RV following the incident but were unable to reach him.

Court records show a magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for Ramirez in December.

Ramirez was taken into custody March 5 near Branson Avenue and Espina Street in Las Cruces.

During the arrest, authorities also charged Ramirez with battery on a peace officer, according to jail records.

Ramirez was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center and ordered held without bond. Court records show he is scheduled to appear in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court in connection with the charges.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.