Man arrested for allegedly choking his father

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WORTHINGTON — A Worthington man is charged with felony-level domestic assault after allegedly trying to strangle his father.

Rodrigo Narviewz Esparza, 23, is still on probation in Nobles County for his part in vandalizing the Minnesota West Community and Technical College baseball field in 2008, causing significant damage at the field.

On Sunday, he allegedly punched a hole in a door at his parents’ residence and choked his father.

According to the criminal complaint, authorities were called to an apartment on College Way to investigate a report of a fight in progress.

They found the victim sweaty and out of breath.

The victim and a witness said Esparza had come to the residence intoxicated, looking for his wife.

When the victim allegedly asked his son to leave, Esparza refused, instigating a fight instead, the complaint states.

The victim pushed Esparza out the door, which is when Esparza tried to choke him and head-butt him.

The witness, a relative, said he had to use all his strength to pull Esparza away.

Another witness said Esparza choked his father “very hard,” causing his face to turn red and bursting a blood vessel in his eye.

Authorities later located Esparza, who had run off before police arrived.

During a recorded statement, Esparza said he got into an argument with his father and tried to leave, but his father pushed him in the back.

He allegedly said he had to protect himself and did so by wrapping his arms around the man, “basically hugging him so he would stop.”

He said that this was his father, so he didn’t hold him as hard as he could.

Esparza denied assaulting his father verbally or physically, stating he was just trying to get away.

He is charged with domestic assault by strangulation, fourth-degree damage to property and two counts of disorderly conduct.

A bond amount was set at $2,500 with the condition Esparza stay a reasonable distance from the victim’s residence.

He has previous convictions for property damage, underage consumption and a driving while impaired charge from January 2010. According to court documents, Esparza was granted a public defender.

He owes more than $600 in court fines and fees from his DWI conviction.

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