Hartford Firefighter Choked, Struck Child With Belt: Police

A child was allegedly struck and choked by their mother, a Hartford firefighter, over the last two years, police said.

Aarvah Quinonez, 34, who has been with the Hartford Fire Department since 2011, was arrested on Tuesday morning for the alleged incidents, the fire department said. 

On Feb. 4, Hartford Police said they began an investigation after they were informed of a possible assault of a minor by their mother, Quinonez. 

Multiple serious allegations stemmed from the investigation, including alleged incidents that Quinonez may have struck her child with a belt and choked the minor in 2015 and 2016, police said 

Police were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Quinonez on April 19.

In 2006, Hartford police searched for Quinonez after they say she went missing from her three children for more than two weeks. A judge temporarily relinquished Quinonez's custody of the three children, aged between 1 and 5 years old at the time. 

Quinonez is accused of second-degree assault, third degree strangulation, risk of injury to a minor.

Her bond was set at $100,000 and she is expected to be in court on May 25. 

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