Four men arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, most
altercations between partners
Morgan Hill – A couple of domestic celebrations turned nasty this weekend during the Taste of Morgan Hill festivities, as local cops responded to a surge in domestic violence calls.
According to Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing officers arrested four men on charges related to domestic violence and responded to six calls for service involving some sort of domestic dispute.
Jeremiah Maldonado, 24, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail after he allegedly tried to run down his girlfriend in her car.
Swing said Maldonado, who was on parole, had battered his girlfriend in their apartment in Morgan Hill. Later, as they were riding in her car, and she was driving with her 4-year-old boy in the back seat , Maldonado allegedly bit her on the shoulder and tried to accelerate the car too quickly.
The girlfriend regained control of the car, pulled over and got out. As she was starting to get her son from the back seat, Maldonado slid over into the driver’s seat, and, though he was intoxicated, Swing said, drove off in her car with the 4-year-old still inside.
Swing said Maldonado was driving recklessly and then turned the car around and allegedly drove towards his girlfriend as if he was trying to run her down. She then ran into a neighbor’s house and called police.
Maldonado was taken to Santa Clara County Jail for a parole hold, alleged assault with a deadly weapon, suspicion of driving under the influence, alleged possession of a stolen vehicle, suspicion of making criminal threats and alleged child endangerment.
On Friday afternoon, at approximately 1:15pm, an officer stopped a woman who was driving on a suspended license. Swing said she told the officer she had been arguing with her husband the weekend before, he pushed her into the stove and cooking oil that was on the stove splashed on her causing burns on her chest.
Swing said the husband, who has a prior warrant out of Gilroy for domestic violence, is still at large.
On Saturday night at approximately 8pm, officers responded after a husband and wife were arguing. According to the wife, her husband grabbed her neck and pushed her down on the couch and held her there, while he slapped her face several times. Swing said she told police the husband let her up from the couch to get a glass of water, and she ran next door and called 911 because she was having a panic attack. Emergency medical personnel responded and called police, Swing said. The 25-year-old husband was booked into Santa Clara County jail for spousal abuse.
Early Sunday morning, at approximately 1:20am, a 60-year-old man on probation for previous domestic violence charges allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. The girlfriend told police he came home drunk, and they had an argument. He allegedly threw her on the bed, Swing said, and while she was trying to get to her cell phone, he took it to prevent her from calling the police. He fled, Swing said, and has not been apprehended. He has two outstanding warrants and a restraining order against him requiring “peaceful contact” with his girlfriend.
Another boyfriend/girlfriend conflict sent a 32-year-old man to Santa Clara County Jail, Swing said. On Sunday night, a couple were drinking alcohol, got into a hot tub, then when the girlfriend wanted to get out of the tub and make a phone call, the boyfriend didn’t want her to and an argument ensued. She got out of the tub, and her boyfriend followed, allegedly knocking her down several times and then holding her down to prevent her from leaving. She had multiple scrapes and some bruises. She managed to get to a neighbor’s house to call police, Swing said.
