New Cassel man choked girlfriend, hit man with trophy, cops say

A New Cassel man turned himself in Monday after choking his girlfriend and used a metal trophy to bash the head of a man he believed was ruining his love relationship, Nassau police said.

Ariel Garcia, 23, had an argument with his 21-year-old girlfriend in his Bond Street home about 4:30 a.m., choked her and prevented her from calling police, Second Precinct detectives said.

Taking a metal trophy, he threatened to kill a 31-year-old man he suspected of getting in the way of his relationship and hopped into a taxi to Hicksville, police said.

In Hicksville, Garcia confronted the man about 6 a.m. at his Duffy Avenue home, where he struck the victim several times in the head with the trophy, causing serious injuries, police said.

Garcia ran off, and the victim called 911 and was taken to the hospital to be treated for a skull fracture, authorities said.

Garcia was remanded Tuesday on charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree strangulation, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief and fourth-degree possession of a dangerous weapon. The court also issued a temporary order of protection.