An Alexandria man is facing felony charges after being arrested earlier this month for allegedly strangling a former roommate in a parking lot of an apartment complex in the city’s West End.
The victim reported to police that on Monday, July 6, he met the suspect, Amir Jlassi, in a parking lot in the 5000 block of Seminary Road to talk about $750 for a utility bill that Jlassi and other roommates owed him. The victim said he recorded the incident on his phone, and that Jlassi then strangled, punched and spit on him, causing him to briefly lose consciousness. He also said that Jlassi stole his phone, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.
“When [the victim] met Mr. Jlassi in the parking lot, [the victim] advised that Mr. Jlassi spit in his face,” police said in the search warrant affidavit. “Mr. Jlassi then punched [the victim] in the face and placed him into a headlock strangling him until he lost consciousness for a few seconds.”
The victim told police that Jlassi recently moved out after living in an apartment with him for several years. He also said that as he regained consciousness, Jlassi rifled through his left front pocket, took his phone and drove from the scene. The victim was later transported to Inova Alexandria Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the affidavit.
Jlassi was arrested on July 8 and charged with strangulation (a Class 6 felony), robbery with injury (a Class 2 felony) and assault and battery (a Class 1 misdemeanor). He was released on recognizance and goes to court to be appointed an attorney on July 29.
