FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A 37-year-old man was arrested on Saturday after a woman was assaulted and strangled in a Fresno Parking lot on Friday.

On September 4, 2026, at about 11:02 p.m. The Fresno Police Department says officers assigned to the southeast Policing Districts were dispatched near East Jensen Avenue and South Fowler Avenue for a check-the-welfare call about a female crying in a parking lot.

Officers contacted the victim, who told them she had met earlier that evening with her ex-boyfriend, 37-year-old Jesus Antonio Leyva, to talk about their prior relationship.

During the meet-up, Leyva asked the victim for a ride, but she told him she could not drive because she had been drinking.

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Leyva drove the victim’s vehicle toward a friend’s house where he intended to be dropped off, but during the ride, he said he did not want to go directly there and instead drove to a nearby parking lot in the area of East Jensen Avenue and South Fowler Avenue.

Police say the victim got out of the vehicle and tried to walk away and call someone for a ride, but Leyva became angry, punched her in the face, and forcibly took her cell phone from her hands.

Leyva then grabbed the victim’s arm and dragged her back toward the vehicle as she yelled for him to let her go.

During the struggle, Police say Leyva put his hands around the victim’s neck and strangled her for about 20 to 25 seconds.

He then punched and kicked her in the face and forced her back into the vehicle, moving her to the passenger seat and telling her to be quiet.

While Leyva searched for the car keys, the victim locked the doors and began honking the horn and flashing the headlights.

Leyva tried to re-enter the vehicle but was unsuccessful and fled on foot.

The victim stayed inside the vehicle for about 20 minutes trying to get someone’s attention.

A reporting party drove by, noticed the victim and called police.

Police said the victim suffered multiple injuries to her face, bruising to her neck, a chipped tooth and lacerations to both arms.

During the investigation, officers also learned of prior unreported domestic violence incidents in which Leyva allegedly threatened to harm the victim if she left him.

Officers also learned that after the breakup, Leyva had appeared at the victim’s place of employment unannounced several times.

On September 5, 2026, at about 1:46 a.m., officers obtained Automated License Plate Reader notifications of the suspect’s possible location within the Southeast Policing District.

Officers found Leyva in his vehicle at a business near South Clovis Avenue and East Inyo Avenue.

Leyva was arrested without incident and booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges related to the investigation, including felony domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, stalking, and felony DUI.