LA GRANDE — Police arrested a La Grande man Monday, Jan. 22, on two felony charges of strangulation in connection with a domestic violence incident from three years prior.

Michael Lyda, 60, has also been charged with two counts of fourth-degree assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and two counts of menacing, according to Oregon public records.

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2021, La Grande police responded to the 100 block of Fir Street after receiving a 911 about a domestic disturbance, stated the probable cause declaration. The reporting party, who was identified as Lyda’s significant other at the time, was “crying, shaking and covering her face with a rag.”

The reporting party told police she and Lyda had gotten into a verbal argument that turned physical, according to the probable cause declaration. Lyda reportedly struck her in the face. He continued to assault her and strangled her twice — to the point where the reporting party told police she could not breathe, was seeing black and thought she would lose consciousness.

Lyda reportedly locked the door and would not let her leave. She told police that when she tried to leave Lyda started yelling and saying things like “you’re not leaving until it’s done.” She told police she was able to escape because Lyda was rummaging around in the bedroom and had his back to her.

La Grande Police and Oregon State Police searched the area for Lyda but were unable to find him, according to the probable cause declaration. Just over three years later, Lyda was arrested at the Flying J. He was reportedly at the truck stop trying to return the reporting party’s truck. After Lyda was taken into custody, law enforcement asked if he would like to share his side of the incident. He reportedly told police that “too much alcohol was involved.” He said he and the reporting party argued, but he couldn’t properly recall everything after that.

Lyda is represented by a court-appointed counsel, La Grande attorney J. Logan Joseph, according to public records. Bail has been set at $5,000 and Lyda is due in court on Feb. 20 for a plea hearing.