Man accused of punching woman, grabbing child by neck

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - A man was arrested after he allegedly punched a woman several times in the mouth and grabbed a child by the neck while yelling at him, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Jose Preciado-Reyes, 26, was arrested on the charges of domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old and domestic battery on a person less than 14 years old.

On November 16, the South Bend Police Department was called to the 2600 block of Prairie Ave. for a domestic situation.

The victim told dispatch that her boyfriend assaulted her and grabbed her son during the assault. The boyfriend had just left the scene in a silver Dodge Charger, she said.

When officers responded, they saw the Charger leaving the apartment complex. One officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle while another met with the victim at the scene.

The driver was later identified as 26-year-old Preciado-Reyes.

At the scene, officers saw that the victim appeared to be crying and had redness around her mouth.

She raised her upper lip to show police a small bruise, saying that it was from, "him punching me in the face," according to reports.

According to the victim, she and Preciado-Reyes had been dating for over a year and lived together in the apartment.

She also has a son who lives with them.

On the day of the incident, the victim and Preciado-Reyes got into an argument and during it, the victim grabbed his phone and threw it on the ground, reports said.

This action caused Preciado-Reyes to get violent, according to the victim.

Preciado-Reyes allegedly grabbed the victim by the chest area and punched her several times in the mouth.

The victim's son saw what was happening from the stairs, yelled at Preciado-Reyes to stop, and threw things at him, reports said.

Preciado-Reyes then went after her son, grabbing him by the neck and yelling at him, according to police.

According to the victim, Preciado-Reyes grabbed her son for only a few seconds and he had no visible injuries.

She was telling Preciado-Reyes to leave her son alone when he allegedly got behind her, put her in an "arm-bar like" position, but did not choke her.

She was let go of and proceeded to call police.

Preciado-Reyes left the apartment before officers arrived, reports said.

He is being held on a $750 cash bond.

Preciado-Reyes is due in court on December 8.

UPDATE: Preciado-Reyes was sentenced to 180 days in county jail for domestic battery as part of a plea agreement. His second charge, domestic battery on a person less than 14 years old, was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. He was sentenced to 180 days in county jail with 180 days suspended. Preciado-Reyes will serve one year of probation.