Lakewood man arrested in death of girlfriend

LAKEWOOD -- A man who called 911 and said his girlfriend was unresponsive and needed medical help was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree murder, police said.

Lakewood police said the 32-year-old man called 911 at about 4 a.m. from the woman's apartment at the Pacific Walk apartments in the 8300 block of 31st Avenue South.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office later said the woman -- Angela Cannizzio-Brooks, 33 -- died of strangulation and the coroner's office ruled it a homicide.

The boyfriend was booked into the Pierce County Jail. No formal charges had been filed, however, so his identity was no immediately released.

Police said the man admitted that he had been arguing with his girlfriend and struck her with an upright vacuum "a couple of times until it appeared she lost consciousness. He admitted dragging her downstairs and continuing the assault in the living room."