Man Arrested on 7 Charges After Cheyenne Police Called to Assault

A 53-year-old Rawlins man is facing a slew of charges after Cheyenne police looking for him in relation to an assault reportedly caught him with methamphetamine around his son.

According to a booking sheet, it all started around 7:30 Saturday evening, after police were called to an undisclosed location within city limits in reference to an assault.

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Police contacted Leo Pete Montoya Jr.'s ex-girlfriend at the residence, who reportedly told them that Montoya -- her on-again, off-again boyfriend of approximately 12 years -- had taken their son after getting into a physical altercation with her and her neighbor.

Police say the woman told them that Montoya pushed her down to the ground, resulting in a scrape on her left ankle, then picked her up by her neck and jacket hood, and dragged her into the street.

Police say the woman had multiple red marks all around her neck from Montoya.

Police then contacted the neighbor, who they say had a laceration to the left side of his cheek.

The male reportedly told police that Montoya came up to his front door, and when he stepped out to talk to him, Montoya punched him.

He also corroborated Montoya's ex-girlfriend's account of the incident and said he witnessed Montoya strangling her.

Around 8:45 p.m., police spotted Montoya driving down East Lincolnway and initiated a high-risk traffic stop.

Police say there was an open bottle of vodka in Montoya's vehicle and it smelled like marijuana.

A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in suspected marijuana being located in the center console and a marijuana bong being found in the back passenger's side seat where Montoya's son was sitting.

A suspected methamphetamine pipe with suspected burnt drug residue was also found behind the front driver's seat.

Police say Montoya was taken to the Laramie County Detention Center without incident, but as he was being booked in, deputies found a brown bindle with suspected methamphetamine inside his wallet.

Montoya was booked in for strangulation of a household member - minor injury, domestic battery, assault - battery, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, taking a controlled substance into jail, child endangerment - meth use, and misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine.

He's scheduled to make his initial appearance in Laramie County Circuit Court tomorrow, Oct. 24, at 9:45 a.m.