A 43-year-old Miami man is facing serious felony charges after deputies say a family argument at a Westchester home turned violent and left his elderly father unconscious.
Authorities say William Rivas was arrested Sunday after he allegedly put his father, who lives with him at the home, in a chokehold during a domestic dispute. The victim lost consciousness and later reported pain in both knees and his left shoulder, along with bleeding from his right ear. Rivas was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the county jail for processing.
According to WSVN, Rivas is charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 or older and domestic battery by strangulation, as detailed in an arrest affidavit. Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responded after the victim called 911, the station reports.
Charges and legal penalties
Florida law treats domestic battery by strangulation as a serious felony offense and increases penalties when the victim is an older adult. Per the Florida Senate, domestic battery by strangulation falls under Section 784.041, while Section 784.08 reclassifies and enhances penalties for assaults or batteries against anyone 65 or older, including mandatory minimum sentences in some cases. Those statutes allow prosecutors to pursue tougher penalties if the allegations are proven in court.
What deputies reported
Investigators told WSVN that Rivas allegedly approached his father from behind while the older man was walking downstairs, then put him in a chokehold that left him unable to breathe. Both men fell to the floor, and the victim told deputies that Rivas let go only after they hit the ground. Deputies arrested Rivas at the home.
Why strangulation is especially dangerous
Advocates and medical professionals warn that strangulation can be life-threatening even when visible injuries appear minor. The National Domestic Violence Hotline notes that strangulation can cause internal damage, traumatic brain injury and delayed death, sometimes with few or no obvious marks on the skin. The organization warns that unconsciousness can occur within seconds and urges survivors to seek medical evaluation and documentation after any strangulation incident, in part because it is linked to a higher risk of future lethal violence.
What happens next
According to the county corrections website, Miami-Dade Corrections typically processes arrestees at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where booking and custody records are created. Bond amounts, court dates and any formal criminal filings in Rivas’ case will be set as the State Attorney’s Office reviews the arrest affidavit and the case proceeds through the local court system.
