Cops: Man chokes boy over game
By Norman Miller / News Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
FRAMINGHAM -- An argument over who was going to be first to play a videogame led a 24-year-old Framingham man to try to strangle a 6-year-old boy on Sunday, according to police.
Police arrested David Cardona, 24, of 25 Hilton St., and he was held yesterday at the police station on ,000 bail.
He is charged with attempted murder, assault and battery on a child under 14, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and simple assault and battery, police said.
Cardona was visiting a neighbor on Sunday with some other adults and children invited to watch the New England Patriots-Indianapolis Colts AFC championship football game. Cardona was drinking beer during the game, the neighbor's boyfriend said.
The neighbor, who did not want to be named, said she was shocked when she found Cardona holding the boy high up against the wall by his throat a little after 6:30 p.m.
"I've known this guy for months now, and he's really a gentle guy," said the woman. "I heard a commotion, and I was going to go up and tell the kids to cut it out. I didn't even see (the child). All I saw was Dave's back, and then I saw (the child's) red face and David holding him up by his neck."
The woman said she grabbed Cardona, who she described as a large man, and told him to get out of the house. She said Cardona told her he was defending himself because the youngster had hit him and broken his glasses.
"He was out the door, and he said, 'You caught me at the wrong time,'" said the woman. "He was supposed to watch my son today. I was horrified. I was going to leave my son with him. What if I didn't see what happened?"
During the game, Cardona was drinking beer, according to the woman's boyfriend, who said it was not an excessive amount -- about five beers.
Framingham Police Lt. Lou Griffith said police went to a Hilton Street apartment after the reported assault. He said Cardona was arrested at 6:48 p.m. Sunday.
After the football game, Cardona went upstairs with the woman's 8-year-old son and the 6-year-old alleged victim to play "Twisted Metal 4." The videogame allows players to operate one vehicle while battling and trying to destroy other vehicles.
"An argument broke out over one of the video controllers, and he grabbed the kid by the throat," said Griffith. "He grabbed him by the throat and pushed him against the wall."
The neighbor's boyfriend said the child was defenseless.
"It would be like the Hulk grabbing me around the throat," he said.
Despite the attack, the 6-year-old, whom the woman said is the son of another friend, was not seriously injured.
"He was pretty shaken up, but he got over it pretty quick," said the woman. "I think I was more shaken up than he was. He didn't go to the hospital. He had red marks around his neck, but they disappeared after about 15 minutes."
The woman said she never had a problem with Cardona. She said he has always been polite, and never picked on her or her boyfriend's child, who is also 8 years old but was not involved in the incident. He would even bring videogames over to play with the kids.
Cardona was scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Framingham District Court.
When arrested, police also said they found Cardona had an outstanding warrant from Worcester District Court, charging him with operating a vehicle with a suspended license, operating an uninsured vehicle, operating an unregistered vehicle, speeding and a license plate violation.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or at
[email protected].
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