North Chicago Man Previously Deported to Mexico Accused of Strangling Girlfriend in Front of Their Child

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — A 26-year-old North Chicago man who prosecutors say was previously deported to Mexico has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly strangling his girlfriend during a domestic dispute while their young child was nearby.

Gabriel Arizmendi Popoca, 26, of North Chicago, faces charges of aggravated domestic battery, unlawful restraint, domestic battery causing bodily harm and domestic battery involving physical contact.

North Chicago police were called to a residence in the 1500 block of Park Avenue at approximately 8:18 p.m. on July 15 for a reported domestic battery.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon said Arizmendi Popoca and the woman were in a dating relationship, lived together and shared a young child.

According to prosecutors, the woman told 911 dispatchers that her mother encouraged her to contact police after her boyfriend allegedly hurt her in front of their child.

Responding officers reportedly noticed redness around the base and sides of the woman’s neck and separated the couple while investigating.

Prosecutors said the dispute began after Arizmendi Popoca returned home from work. The woman reportedly asked him to help care for their child while she took a shower.

Cannon said an argument followed because Arizmendi Popoca did not like being asked by his girlfriend to do things. He later fell asleep on the couch, and the woman made comments about him not helping her.

The woman eventually took their child into a bedroom to go to sleep. Prosecutors allege Arizmendi Popoca became upset and followed her into the room.

With the child on the bed, Arizmendi Popoca allegedly pushed the woman onto the bed and placed his hands around her neck, strangling her until she was unable to breathe.

The woman told investigators the alleged strangulation lasted approximately 15 to 20 seconds.

Although she did not lose consciousness, prosecutors said she experienced difficulty swallowing and nausea afterward and felt like she was going to vomit.

She declined medical treatment but allowed officers to photograph her injuries.

According to Cannon, the woman did not want charges pursued against Arizmendi Popoca. She nevertheless reported that he had been violent with her previously and allegedly strangled her on two earlier occasions.

Police arrested Arizmendi Popoca following the investigation.

According to prosecutors, Arizmendi Popoca told officers he “understood why because he did something wrong.”

He later reportedly said again that he “did something wrong” and that “it was his fault that he was arrested.”

Arizmendi Popoca admitted pushing the woman but denied strangling her, prosecutors said. He reportedly told investigators he could not remember whether he pushed her onto the bed by her neck or her shoulders.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office subsequently sought to have Arizmendi Popoca detained while his criminal case moves forward, arguing that he posed a danger to the woman.

“Furthermore, the victim reports a history of violent, assaultive, or abusive behavior by this Defendant towards her. The victim had visible redness consistent with being strangled, and the victim described nausea and difficulty swallowing after the incident, consistent with being choked for several seconds,” Cannon argued.

“This Defendant is a danger to the victim, and detention is necessary to protect the victim from this Defendant,” Cannon said.

During a detention hearing, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell also raised Arizmendi Popoca’s immigration history.

McConnell said Arizmendi Popoca did not have a documented criminal history in the United States but had previously been deported to Mexico in 2018.

“Yet this defendant has come back and is now present, which shows that there could be criminal history that we are unaware of in Mexico,” McConnell said.

Despite prosecutors seeking detention, Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim denied the state’s request and ordered Arizmendi Popoca released under pretrial conditions.

Nerheim determined prosecutors had satisfied two of the three legal requirements necessary for detention but had not established that conditions of release would be unable to mitigate the potential threat.

The judge also considered the woman’s desire to have Arizmendi Popoca released.

Arizmendi Popoca is scheduled to return to court on September 28 for a case management conference.

The charges against Arizmendi Popoca are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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