Woman accused of choking husband

COEUR d’ALENE — A woman who was previously released after police said she choked her husband is back in jail.

Analisha L. Melendrez, 42, of Turlock, Calif., is charged with domestic battery, a misdemeanor.

The charge stems from June, when police responded to a report of a woman, later identified as Melendrez, choking a man on Ironwood Drive.

Melendrez allegedly told police that the man, her husband, had hit her unprovoked and grabbed her by her hair when she tried to leave on a bicycle.

When questioned, the man reportedly said he was riding his bike when Melendrez approached him from behind, grabbed his neck and squeezed. He said he pulled his shirt off in an effort to get out of Melendrez’s grasp and they both fell to the ground.

The man had scratches on his neck, police said.

Witnesses reportedly said they saw Melendrez grab the man’s neck, according to court documents.

Police arrested Melendrez at the scene.

Judge James Stow ordered that Melendrez be released on her own recognizance and issued a no contact order between Melendrez and her husband.

She later failed to appear in court, according to court documents, and a warrant for her arrest was issued Aug. 20.

Melendrez was arrested again on Monday. She was also wanted on a warrant out of Boundary County after she reportedly failed to appear in court on a misdemeanor malicious injury to property charge, according to court documents.

Judge Robert Burton ordered Tuesday that Melendrez be held on $10,000 bail.