A 28-year-old Ceres man was arrested and booked into jail Thursday afternoon after he allegedly beat up his younger female cousin whose injuries required treatment at a local hospital.

The 24-year-old victim is pressing assault charges on Jesus Zamora Melgoza.

The assault allegedly took place at 901 Alcoy Drive and was reported at 4:10 p.m. Officer Adam Hall investigated and determined that the incident started when the woman poured out Melgoza’s beer because he was being a belligerent drunk. Melgoza got angry and threw the victim to the ground and restrained and kicked her while she was on the ground. The victim was able to get up and Melgoza allegedly grabbed her around her neck and strangled her for a period of time before he released her. The victim had visible injuries to her body and was treated at the hospital. 

Melgoza was booked into the Public Safety Center on charges of assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury, battery against a person resulting in serious injury, false imprisonment and being drunk in public.