Man who police say choked, tried to smother woman arrested in Garden Grove

A 43-year-old man was in custody on suspicion of trying to kill a woman and then barricading himself inside a Garden Grove home for hours on Thursday, police said.

Officers were called to a domestic dispute involving a couple at a home in the 8600 block of Meadow Brook Avenue, police Sgt. Juan Centeno said.

Officers found a woman outside of the home and the man inside refusing to come out. They determined that the man, later identified as Joseph B. Delatorre, had choked and tried to smother the 55-year-old woman, Centeno said.

The victim had escaped, called police and told officers that Delatorre had access to weapons, including a rifle.

Officers tried to negotiate with him but he refused to come out. For hours, the SWAT team and negotiators tried to convince the suspect to leave the home until he finally walked out. He tried to go back in but was caught by a police K-9.

He was booked into jail on suspicion of various charges including attempted homicide. The victim was treated for her injuries and was expected to survive.