A Farmington man has been charged with aggravated battery (great bodily harm) following an alleged physical altercation at a Farmington apartment complex in which police said another man reported that Clark placed his hands around his neck, according to an arrest affidavit filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.

Jerry Clark, 47, is accused of aggravated battery (great bodily harm) in connection with the May 6 incident at Cedar Ridge Apartments on East 28th Street.

All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

According to the affidavit, officers were dispatched at approximately 5:56 p.m. to a disturbance at the apartment complex after callers reported a man and woman outside yelling and a second caller reported that Clark was attempting to stop another man from entering an apartment.

Court records state Clark told officers he acted after the other man allegedly punched him repeatedly in the face. Clark reportedly told police he then grabbed the other man, pushed him against a wall and placed his hands around the man’s neck during the altercation.

According to the affidavit, several witnesses inside the apartment provided statements to investigators. One witness reportedly told investigators Clark pinned the other man against a hallway wall, struck him and placed his hands around the man’s neck during the altercation.

Another witness reportedly told officers Clark said, “you guys better call the cops or I’m gonna kill this guy,” according to court records.

Another witness reportedly told officers she attempted to separate the two men and was accidentally struck during the altercation.

Police later contacted the other man involved, identified in court records as Nathaniel Gruette, in the parking lot of a Lowe’s store. According to the affidavit, Gruette told officers Clark grabbed him, pushed him into a wall and placed his hands around his neck during the encounter. Gruette reportedly told officers he felt faint and believed he was close to losing consciousness during the encounter.

The affidavit states officers observed contusions and swelling on the left side of Gruette’s face, as well as marks and abrasions on his neck that officers reported were consistent with possible strangulation injuries.

According to court records, an anonymous reporting party later told police they did not witness any physical altercation and had only heard arguing.

CHARGES FILED

• Aggravated battery (great bodily harm)

CASE STATUS

Court records show the charge was filed May 7 in San Juan County Magistrate Court. Court records reviewed at the time of publication did not list an attorney for Clark.

SOURCE

According to an affidavit for arrest warrant and criminal complaint filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.