News

Man arrested for strangling girlfriend in West End parking lot

An 28-year-old Arlington man is being held without bond after allegedly strangling and physically assaulting his live-in girlfriend in the Van Dorn Plaza Shopping Mall parking lot.

Alexandria Police officers responded to Inova Fairfax Hospital on September 8, where they interviewed the victim, who had injuries to her face and arms, including “swelling to her forehead, nose, shoulders, forearms and left wrists… bruises to her left leg and swelling to the back of her head,” police said in a search warrant affidavit.

Obaidah Nasir Fareed was arrested on October 18 and charged with two counts of strangling a family/household member and two counts of domestic assault and battery.

The victim told police that the incident occurred in the parking lot at 299 South Van Dorn Street. She said that the suspect “pushed her head into a pillar between the front and rear passenger side door (of a car), delivered several clenched fist punches to (the victim’s) forehead, nose, jab, and torso,” according to the warrant. “He then climbed on top of her and wrapped his arm around her neck in a choke hold fashion.”

The victim told police that she could not breathe for four seconds. After she was freed, she said that the suspect left to go to the bathroom and that she then called police and drove herself to the hospital.

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About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.