A 51-year-old Cheyenne man is facing a slew of charges after allegedly beating up his ex-wife, sending her to the hospital.
Police say they were called to a physical disturbance at the Eagles Lodge at 1600 Thomes Avenue around 12:10 a.m. Friday, May 19, and arrived to find a large altercation between multiple males going on outside and a woman lying on the ground.
The woman reportedly told police that her ex-husband, Paul Joseph Lopez, found her inside the lodge and made a comment similar to, “You’re not going to live to see your grandchildren.”
When the woman went outside to leave, Lopez reportedly walked up behind her, grabbed her by her shirt collar, and pinned her up against a fence in the parking lot.
The woman reportedly grabbed her phone to call for help, but Lopez threw her into a parked car, then grabbed her again and threw her onto the ground, causing her to hit her head on the pavement.
Lopez then reportedly grabbed the woman by the neck and strangled her.
According to a booking sheet, multiple witnesses exited the lodge to find the woman on the ground and Lopez smashing her phone on the ground. The witnesses then attempted to hold Lopez back from assaulting anyone else.
Lopez reportedly told police that he and his ex-wife had been together for 15 years and had two children in common.
Police say Lopez also claimed that his ex-wife had swung at him before he pushed her to the ground, but he refused to say anything more about what had happened.
Police say the woman had multiple injuries consistent with her story and red marks on her neck consistent with the shape of fingers and a thumb.
She was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and was found to have red marks near her armpits from her clothing rubbing after Lopez pinned her up against the fence, a small laceration on the back of her head, and a bump forming from where she hit her head on the ground.
Lopez was subsequently arrested and charged with strangulation of a household member, a felony, as well as domestic battery, interference with an emergency call, destruction of property, and interference with a peace officer, all misdemeanors.
He made his initial appearance in Laramie County Circuit Court on Friday, May 19, and posted $5,000 bail the same day.
Lopez’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for this Friday, May 26, at 11:30 a.m.
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