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John A. Padilla
John A. Padilla, 56, was arrested Monday on suspicion of striking his fiancee and attempting to keep her from leaving their home, Las Cruces police said in a news release.
Padilla was being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond, charged with one count each of aggravated battery of a household member and false imprisonment, the release said.
Police were sent to the couple’s home shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, and the first officer on the scene saw the 42-year-old woman walking away from their home with visible injuries to her head, according to the release.
Detectives said the couple got into a heated argument when Padilla allegedly began punching the woman, who locked herself into the bathroom, but Padilla was able to force his way in and threaten her with a knife, police said.
The woman called 911 and was able to leave the house and kept talking to the dispatcher who urged her to keep walking away, the release said.
Padilla followed the woman a short distance but returned to the house, where he eventually left when police ordered him to walk out on his own, and he was arrested without incident, Las Cruces police said.
