Mescalero Man Charged with Violent Assault and Strangulation

ALBUQUERQUE – A brutal scene unfolded on the Mescalero Apache Reservation as Philman Sam Pike, a 24-year-old enrolled member of the tribe, was charged with assault by strangling and or suffocating and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Court documents detail a harrowing attack on March 13, 2025. The Bureau of Indian Affairs responded to a 911 call, where they discovered a woman suffering from a fractured orbital bone, swelling, and numerous bruises indicative of repeated physical assault and strangulation.

The investigation exposed a two-day-long ordeal where Pike is accused of assaulting and strangling the victim multiple times, nearly rendering her unconscious. Emergency medical personnel treated the woman at the scene before transporting her to the hospital for further care. Medical exams confirmed severe injuries and evidence of strangulation.

After piecing together the chilling narrative, officers tracked down Pike hiding in a nearby residence and apprehended him without incident. Pike now faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

The U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison announced the charges, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson K. Dering V handling the prosecution. The Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation, emphasizing that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELATED: Mescalero Man Julius Mendez Pleads Guilty to Assault in Indian Country

RELATED: Ruidoso Downs Man Gets 5 Years for Meth Run