Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — July 9, 2025 — A Jonesboro man is behind bars on a $100,000 cash/surety bond after police said he strangled his girlfriend during a dispute over the ownership of a video game console.
According to an affidavit, on June 23, Jonesboro police officers responded to a home in the 900 block of Belt Street for an assault that had already occurred. Officers met with the victim, who said her boyfriend, 25-year-old Hamza El-Arabi, tried to choke her.
She explained she had been at El-Arabi’s home to get some of her items she had left there, but he got upset that she was taking her PlayStation 5 video game console. El-Arabi claimed the victim bought the console for him, the affidavit said.
The affidavit said El-Arabi then approached the victim and began choking her, making it difficult for her to breathe. She said she began to feel herself lose consciousness and couldn’t remove El-Arabi’s hands from her throat due to his strength. It was only when the victim scratched at El-Arabi’s face with her fingernails that she was able to get away from him and run out of the apartment to contact police.
“Officers noted fresh marks around the neck and throat of the victim consistent with being choked,” the affidavit said.
While officers were unable to find El-Arabi at the time of the report being made, online jail records show he was arrested on July 8.
Craighead County Judge David Boling found probable cause July 9 to charge El-Arabi with aggravated assault on a family or household member. Upon release, El-Arabi must wear a GPS ankle monitor.
El-Arabi’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 21.
