Peabody Man Charged With Trying to Strangle Girlfriend

A Peabody man was charged with trying to strangle his girl friend during a dispute at the Days Inn in Danvers on Tuesday morning.

Stephen A. Goudreau, 27, of 10 Wayne Road in Peabody was arrested by Danvers Police after his girlfriend called police and said that Goudreau allegedly assaulted her in their hotel room at the Days Inn on Endicott Street.

Danvers Police Sgt. Robert Bettencourt said the victim and Goudrean continued their argument in the parking lot when Goudreau tried to drive off with the victim's car. The victim got into the car with Goudreau when he drove off and then Goudrean allegedly tried to strangle the victim, according to Bettencourt.

"It was at that point that he put his hands around her throat and tried to strangle her," Bettencourt said.

As police officers investigated at the scene, Bettencourt said that Goudreau returned in the victim's 2003 Acura sedan and was arrested. He said Goudrean was charged with attempted murder and assault and battery domestic.

He said Goudreau was also charged on three outstanding warrants from three different district courts for three counts of larceny, drug possession and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Goudreau was arraigned in Salem District Court on Tuesday afternoon and ordered held without bail. He is scheduled to have a dangerousness hearing on Feb. 16.