LAKE WALES, FL – A Guatemalan man who authorities say is in the United States illegally was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office early Saturday morning after deputies responded to a violent domestic violence incident involving a pregnant woman and her 18-month-old child.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived at the scene on June 20 and found 20-year-old Gerber Alexander Bamaca Perez standing over the victim with his fists clenched while she screamed for help. Deputies reported that Bamaca Perez resisted briefly before being taken into custody.
Investigators say the victim, who is 27 weeks pregnant with the suspect’s child, suffered significant bruising to her face, throat, and torso. Authorities allege Bamaca Perez choked and repeatedly struck the woman before grabbing her toddler and throwing the child to the ground. The child did not appear to suffer visible injuries.
During the incident, the victim reportedly attempted to call 911, but investigators say the suspect took the phone from her before she could complete the call. Both the woman and child were transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Bamaca Perez faces charges of Domestic Violence Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Victim, Child Abuse Without Great Bodily Harm, Tampering with a Victim, Possession of Counterfeit Identification, and Resisting Without Violence.
An immigration hold has been placed on Bamaca Perez by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
