Girl to cops: 'Mommy was choking me'

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - An East Providence woman is facing attempted murder and child abuse charges, after police say she almost choked her four-year-old daughter to death.

28-year-old Christine Cruz was arrested at her home on Cedar Avenue Tuesday. Police said they went to the house after Cruz's boyfriend, Robert Howard, called 911.

According to police, Howard said Cruz had choked her four-year-old daughter into unconsciousness. Howard said he found the child face down on a couch; she was blue and not breathing. He performed CPR on the girl, and was able to revive her.

Police said the girl was still bluish in color when they arrived on scene.

"Mommy was choking me," she told them when she was finally able to speak to officers.

Police said the child would have died if not for Howard's actions.

The girl was taken to Hasbro Children's Hospital , treated, and released into the care of her biological father.

Cruz is currently being held at the ACI on $50,000 surety bail, and has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. Police said she has a history of mental health problems, but they are still investigating what exactly happened.