Iowa City man accused of trying to strangle, punch, suffocate girlfriend

An Iowa City man was arrested after a woman told police he tried to strangle, punch and suffocate her during a fight between them Tuesday, police said.

At 4:51 p.m., police responded to the residence of Riccardo Holcomb Jr., 32, of 1218 Highland Court No. 3, for what they were told was a fight between two roommates. When the arrived, they found that Holcomb had fled, but the female victim told police she and her ex-boyfriend became involved in an argument when she was attacked, police said.

According to a police report, the victim told police Holcomb grabbed her by the neck and tried to strangle her, punched her in the head at least once, and pushed her face first into a leather couch, holding her head down and ultimately blocking her airway.

Holcomb was charged with second-offense domestic abuse assault, an aggravated misdemeanor. He has a previous conviction of domestic abuse assault causing injury from March 11, police said.