NEWFIELD, Maine — A New Mexico man accused of attempting to strangle his former girlfriend and threatening to burn her alive on New Year’s Eve is being held without bail after York County police arrested him on Friday.
Santiago Apodaca, 20, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, was charged with aggravated domestic violence assault and criminal threatening.
Apodaca came to the attention of York County Sheriff’s Office officials at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, when they received a report of a domestic assault at Shady Nook Road in Newfield, according to a media release issued Friday by Sheriff William L. King Jr.
When Sgt. Kyle Kassa and Deputy Gil Hudson arrived, Apodaca had allegedly left, but his former girlfriend was there. She told police that they had been alone in the house with their 10-month-old baby when they began to argue, according to the police report. The woman told officers she had put the baby in a bouncer and gone into the barn attached to the house in order to be alone, but Apodaca allegedly followed her.
According to the woman, Apodaca put her in a bear hug and then slammed her head against a grain barrel, King said. Apodaca then attempted to strangle her and “she reported she almost lost consciousness,” the sheriff said.
“Apodaca held her down on a bale of hay and attempted to light the hay on fire, threatening to burn the house down and burn her alive,” King said.
The woman told police she was able to kick his lighter away and was able to call a family member who lives nearby and then the sheriff’s office. The family member arrived shortly thereafter and prevented any further assault, King said, and Apodaca left the area before the deputies’ arrival.
The victim suffered physical injuries but did not require medical attention, the sheriff said.
Investigating officers learned that Apodaca had been previously arrested and charged with domestic violence assault for a prior incident, but he wasn’t prosecuted. He left Maine and then relocated to New Mexico before or shortly after the baby was born, and he came back to Maine to spend time with his child during the holidays, King said.
Apodaca came back to the home of the alleged victim on New Year’s Day and was arrested and charged.
He will remain in York County Jail until his initial court appearance, which is scheduled for Monday. He is not eligible for bail because of the nature of the crime, the sheriff said.