Inver Grove Heights Man Accused of Strangling, Hitting Woman

A 40-year-old Inver Grove Heights man has been charged with two felonies: domestic assault by strangulation and terroristic threats, and three misdemeanors: interfering with an emergency call and two additional domestic assault charges.

Julio Galeana Santana was arrested and is in the Dakota County Jail after the woman he had been staying with for a few months accused him of strangling and hitting her earlier this month.

According to the criminal complaint, police went to the Inver Grove Heights home on Monday, Jan. 23 where a non-English speaking woman told them, with the help of her son as an interpreter, she and Santana got into an argument the week before and she needed medical attention.

"An ambulance was called for transport, and with the use of the language line, an initial statement was taken from the victim," according to the complaint.

After she was released from the hospital, a formal statement was taken by a Spanish-speaking officer.

During the statements, the woman said Santana, who had been living in her house for five months, choked her while she was in her kitchen on Jan. 18 and she has had trouble breathing since then.

"The victim stated that she had been washing dishes when she and Santana got into an argument, and that he grabbed her by the hair on the back of her head, and pulled her back," the complaint said.

Santana reportedly brought the woman to the back bedroom and threw her against the wall which caused her to hit her head. The woman said she was pinned to the bed and Santana put his arms around her throat and strangled her until she started having trouble breathing and began to lose her vision.

"The victim stated that Santana then just stopped, but took her cell phone and hid it, and also disconnected the home phone. Santana told the victim that if she tried to call the police he would kill her children here, and the ones living in Mexico," according to the complaint.

When she tried to call 911, Santana allegedly pulled the telephone out of the wall and started threatening her and threatening to hurt her children if she called police.

Santana reportedly continued to threaten the woman all weekend, but she didn’t report it earlier because she had previously reported an incident and nothing happened so she was afraid if she reported it he would really hurt her family.

"The victim stated that she now reported the incident because she did not know what else to do, and was still having pain from Santana strangling her and throwing her into the walls," according to the complaint.

If charged with the maximum penalties, Santana faces three years in jail and a $5,000 fine for the felony strangulation charge; five years in jail and a $10,000 fine for terroristic threats– a felony; one year and $3,000 for interfering with an emergency call; and 90 days and $1,000 for two domestic assault charges.

Santana has made two court appearances and is being held in jail until an omnibus hearing.