A Scranton man attacked his girlfriend in her hospital bed Saturday morning, police charge.
An officer responded to Geisinger Community Medical Center in the city Saturday around 9:59 a.m. for the report of a physical domestic in a patient’s room, police said.
The male suspect had left the scene before police were notified, according to a criminal complaint.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the officer met with security officer John Kurilla, who informed him a patient was assaulted by her boyfriend in her room, police said. The suspect was seen leaving the area in a white Toyota minivan, according to the criminal complaint.
The victim told Kurilla she was choked and slapped in the face, police said.
By the time the officer was able to speak with the victim, she didn’t show any marks or redness from the attack, police said. When a translator was brought in to assist police, the victim said her boyfriend, Carlos Perez, was angry over an issue with their vehicle registration which resulted in him being pulled over and arrested, according to the criminal complaint.
The victim told investigators she started recording video on her phone when Perez entered her room because he had been physical with her in the past, police said.
She showed an officer three videos, which captured Perez yelling at her and eventually getting in her face, according to the criminal complaint. A loud slap could also be heard in one of the videos, which was when the woman said Perez slapped her, police said. She added that was when he also started choking her, cutting off her breathing for a few seconds.
Nurses were informed something was occurring in the room when the victim’s heart rate became elevated and they noticed her neck was slightly red when they entered the room, police said.
Another patient in the room told an officer she heard arguing and saw the suspect with his hands around the victim’s neck when she pulled back the curtain separating the beds, leading Perez to stop, according to the criminal complaint.
Nurses also told the officer that the victim is pregnant, but the baby wasn’t harmed during the assault, police said.
Police charged Perez with strangulation, simple assault and harassment.
As of Monday, Perez, 41, remained in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for June 10 at 10:15 a.m.