HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) – A two-year-old child tried to stop a man from allegedly attacking his mother during an attack that lasted several hours, according to the Hollywood Police Department.

Authorities said Henry D. Matamoros Valladares, 27, held a knife to the throat of Mirna Perez, whom he had been living with for nine years. Police said Matamoros choked Perez until she nearly blacked out and threatened to kill her.

During the alleged incident, police said a two-year-child of the couple saw Matamoros, “repeatedly striking Ms. Perez. Mr. Matamoros was on top of Ms. Perez’s back grabbing her face and head, slamming it to the ground when the child got on top of Ms. Perez’s back attempting to get between Mr. Matamoros and Ms. Perez trying [to] protect his mother.”

Police said Matamoros restrained Perez and whenever she tried to use the phone, he would kick the phone away from her. According to the arrest report, police said Matamoros held Perez against her will and prevented her from leaving the apartment.

Perez was held against her will from 3 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. Monday when she finally was able to contact police, according to the arrest report.

Matamoros said he and his wife had been in an argument and that at one point he had hit her with a belt, according to police. The arrest report said Perez had to be treated for her injuries which included bruises on her stomach, hips, legs, both arms, under her chin, and a scratch on her back.

Once he was arrested, police discovered that Matamoros had been arrested before for domestic battery.

Matamoros faces charges of: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without an intent to kill; battery, felony battery by strangulation; kdinapping/false imprisonment, and obstructing justice.