A man was arrested Monday after police said he strangled a woman during a family disturbance and pushed a man who was holding a 3-month-old baby, causing the infant to fall to the ground.

Fresno police said officers responded about 8:49 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, to a family disturbance at a confidential location.

The woman told officers she had been arguing with her sister when her brother-in-law, Jacob Ballinger, approached her, placed both hands around her neck and began strangling her, police said.

The woman lost her balance and fell, striking her head on a wall-mounted air conditioning unit, according to police. She told officers Ballinger continued strangling her for about three minutes and prevented her from moving. She reported pain on both sides of her neck and said she lost consciousness during the assault.

The woman’s boyfriend intervened while holding the couple’s 3-month-old baby in one arm, police said. As he tried to get Ballinger off the woman, Ballinger allegedly pushed him backward, causing him to fall and drop the infant.

Ballinger left before officers arrived, police said.

Officers encountered Ballinger about 10:38 p.m. Monday near Shaw Avenue and Fresno Street while responding to an unrelated report of a suspicious vehicle.

Police arrested Ballinger on charges related to the Aug. 6 incident, including assault likely to cause great bodily injury, false imprisonment and child abuse.

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