A man in Memphis, Tennessee, is accused of beating up his own father after the elder man told a friend of the younger’s that he was indeed his father.
Miguel Gomez Jr., 32, has been charged with aggravated assault by strangulation and domestic assault, according to an arrest affidavit. The incident happened on August 10.
Miguel Gomez Sr. was with his son at their home on the 2800 block of Randy Cove in Memphis, Tennessee, when Miguel Gomez Jr. “asked him if he had told one of his friends that he was his dad,” according to the affidavit. “Gomez Sr. replied, telling him that he did, which angered Miguel Gomez. Jr.”
“Gomez Jr. punched Gomez Sr. in the mouth with a closed fist,” the court document reads, with the father recounting how he fled outside the house. But that wasn’t the end of the alleged assault.
The younger man caught up with his father “and struck him again,” according to police. The defendant then allegedly “slammed his father to the ground and began dragging him on the pavement.”
“Gomez Jr. then wrapped his arm around Gomez Sr.’s neck from behind and squeezed until he could not breathe,” according to the affidavit.
According to authorities, a man named “Gonzalo” was driving down the street at the time of the alleged attack and witnessed the crime. The witness is said to have screamed at the suspect, prompting him to “momentarily release his grip.”
Still, Gomez Sr. was not freed, so the victim “bit” his son near the chest, allowing the father to get up and run to his truck. Following that, the victim drove to a nearby police station and gave his account of events.
According to the affidavit, the elderly man suffered cuts on his mouth, an abrasion on his arm, and swelling on his head. He identified his son as the attacker.
Miguel Gomez Jr. was booked into Shelby County Jail on August 17 and given a bond of $200,000 for the charges against him.
The defendant appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, and a judge granted the state’s motion to revoke his bond, according to local CBS affiliate WREG.
