A New Mexico man was arrested Friday after his former girlfriend said he attacked her at her parents’ Newfield home, choking her to near-unconsciousness and then threatening to burn her alive as he held her down on a bale of hay and tried to flick on a lighter, officials said.

The woman was able to kick the lighter away and called a family member who lives nearby and police, according to the York County Sheriff’s Office.

Santiago Apodaca, 20, of Rio Rancho was in Maine to spend time with their 10-month-old daughter during the holidays, officials said.

Apodaca fled the home after the attack Thursday afternoon, but he returned to the Newfield house Friday and was taken into custody by Deputy Gil Hudson and Deputy Dan Shaw.

Apodaca, who is charged with aggravated domestic violence assault and criminal threatening, is not eligible for bail, and is being held in the York County Jail pending an initial court appearance Monday.

Sheriff William King said in a news release that the victim told police she was alone with Apodaca and their child in the house when they started arguing.

“She put the baby in a baby bouncer seat and told Apodaca that she was going into the barn that is attached to the house for some alone time – Apodaca followed,” King said. “Once in the barn, Apodaca placed the victim in a ‘bear hug’ and slammed her head against a grain barrel. He then strangled her, and she reported she almost lost consciousness. Apodaca held her down on a bale of hay and attempted to light the hay on fire, threatening to burn the house down and burn her alive.”

After she kicked away the lighter and called for help, a relative arrived who “prevented any further assault.”

The woman suffered some injuries but did not require medical attention.

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