Man with knife tries zip-tying girlfriend’s neck, but she fights back, CA cops say

A man was arrested after being accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend and attacking her during an argument at a motel, California police said.

On May 26, Timothy Loring, 34, got into a fight with his girlfriend, then started kicking and punching her, according to a Facebook post by the Barstow Police Department.

She tried running away from Loring but he caught her and threatened to kill her if she didn’t return to the room, police said.

After they got back to the room, Loring, holding a knife, said “he would kill her,” police said.

Loring grabbed a zip tie and put it around her neck, attempting to cinch it down to choke her, police said. The woman put her hands between the tie and her neck to prevent it from being moved down, police said.

Eventually, she was able to get away and called 911 just after 12:15 p.m., police said.

Officers found Loring and tried talking to him but he ran away, police said.

Police said they caught up to him and took him into custody.

He was booked into the High Desert Detention Center on charges of domestic violence, criminal threats, kidnapping and attempted murder, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 760-256-2211.

Barstow is about a 120-mile drive northeast from downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Man with knife tries zip-tying girlfriend’s neck, but she fights back, CA cops say."