Eric Giddens, 34, of Fresno, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, after allegedly strangling his girlfriend twice, stealing her belongings and vehicle, and crashing into another car in Fresno, police said. (Fresno PD)
- Fresno police arrested Eric Giddens, 34, after he allegedly strangled his girlfriend twice Saturday afternoon.
- The woman contacted police through her Apple Watch before Giddens allegedly forcefully removed the device.
- Officers detained Giddens after an alleged hit-and-run and said he was driving under the influence.
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A 34-year-old Fresno man was arrested Saturday after allegedly strangling his girlfriend twice during a domestic violence incident, stealing her vehicle and belongings, and fleeing a collision, authorities said.
Fresno police officers responded to the 6500 block of North Riverside Drive about 3:08 p.m. following reports of a domestic violence disturbance, the Fresno Police Department told GV Wire.
Officers contacted a woman who had fresh abrasions on both knees, bruising on her left wrist, and redness beneath her chin.
The woman told officers she had been involved in a physical confrontation with her boyfriend of five months, identified as Eric Giddens.
According to police, the confrontation began while the woman was driving on Riverside Drive.
Giddens allegedly climbed on top of the woman, grabbed her, and strangled her for approximately 30 seconds while she continued driving.
The woman eventually pulled over on Riverside Drive, just north of Palo Alto Drive, and attempted to call 911.
Police said Giddens grabbed her to prevent her from contacting authorities before strangling her a second time.
The woman managed to unlock the vehicle and open the driver’s door, but Giddens allegedly threw her out of the vehicle.
Giddens then walked around the vehicle and forcibly took the woman’s purse, police said.
He also allegedly grabbed her iPhone 17 Pro from inside the vehicle and smashed it against the ground, shattering the glass and cracking the frame.
Apple Watch Used to Call for Help
Police said Giddens then took control of the woman’s vehicle and began driving away.
The woman managed to contact police using her Apple Watch, but Giddens allegedly stopped the vehicle, returned to her, and attempted to take the device.
Authorities said he overpowered the woman and forcibly removed the watch from her wrist.
The woman then walked toward a group of people standing in a nearby parking lot to wait for officers.
Meanwhile, Giddens continued driving around the parking lot while yelling at her, police said.
He struck another vehicle and fled the collision scene.
Responding officers located Giddens running from the vehicle and detained him. Police said he was found to have been driving under the influence.
Giddens was arrested on multiple charges, including felony domestic violence, carjacking, robbery, vandalism, assault likely to cause great bodily injury, and hit-and-run.
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