Gainesville man arrested after allegedly choking his girlfriend, then threatening to kill himself

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joshua Christian Johnson, 22, was arrested yesterday after allegedly choking his girlfriend after she said she was finished with the relationship.

The two were arguing in their residence when the victim said she wanted to break up and tried to leave. Johnson allegedly locked the door and sat in front of it, preventing her from leaving, and she began to scream for help. The victim told a Gainesville Police Department officer that Johnson tried to choke her and then banged her head on the floor. She said that he then picked up his pistol, told her that he was going to kill himself, and left. At that point, she called 911 for help.

Post Miranda, Johnson reportedly admitted that he blocked her from leaving and that he choked her because she was screaming; he said he realized at that point that he had “taken it too far,” so he let her go. He reportedly said that when she continued to scream, he tried to cover her mouth with his hand, and when she continued to try to leave, he pushed her “so hard her head put a hole in the wall.” He reportedly denied slamming her head against the floor and said he became concerned about her when she said she was lightheaded from hitting the wall, so he then told her he was going to kill himself and grabbed his gun.

Johnson has no criminal record. He has been charged with false imprisonment, domestic battery by strangulation, and domestic battery. He is being held on $200,000 bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.