A Mossyrock man was charged with second-degree assault on Wednesday after he allegedly strangled a coworker during an argument on Tuesday.
The dispute reportedly began when Daniel De La Rosa Maldonado, 48, “became upset because he felt like (his coworker) was being lazy,” according to charging documents.
The coworker told responding law enforcement that he tried to walk away, but Maldonado allegedly “grabbed him from behind in a chokehold with his forearm and bicep around his neck.”
Law enforcement who responded to the incident on Tuesday, July 2, photographed the injuries to the victim’s neck.
When questioned by a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office sergeant, Maldonado allegedly said “he became upset and grabbed (the victim) around the neck and (the victim) tried to punch him, so Maldonado held onto him, but let go when (the victim) tried grabbing things off the table to hit him with,” according to court documents.
He later reportedly indicated he thought Maldonado was going to punch him, and allegedly said he “did not feel like (the chokehold) was around his neck, more like his chest area.”
Maldonado reportedly “apologized and said it was stupid.”
Maldonado was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail just after 2:55 p.m. on July 2, according to jail records.
He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail on Wednesday.
“I don’t have a lot of concern for community safety or risk of flight,” Judge Joely Yeager said Tuesday, calling the incident “a fight at work” and referring to Maldonado’s lack of criminal history.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, July 11.
