A 26-year-old man, Luis Carlos Almendarez-Gonzalez, was arrested Wednesday in Miami Springs for choking his stepson inside a hotel room where the family had been staying.


According to police, the incident occurred after the boy attempted to retrieve food stamp cards for his mother, sparking an argument. The hotel manager and staff witnessed the boy running to them, holding his neck and claiming his stepfather had choked him. Officers confirmed the boy had red marks on his neck.
Almendarez-Gonzalez admitted to an argument but denied choking the boy. He was arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse and battery by strangulation and is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.