NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A man from North Miami Beach was arrested Monday after police said he repeatedly beat the mother of his child after suspecting she was cheating on him with an ex-boyfriend.
Damian Alberto Castaneda, 31, faces charges of strong-arm robbery, false imprisonment, tampering with a victim and battery.
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According to an arrest report, the victim filed a police report Monday, accusing Castaneda of being physically abusive on multiple occasions, especially “when he is under the influence of alcohol.”
Police said the victim claimed that on Sept. 23, Castaneda accused her, without basis, of cheating on him with her ex-boyfriend before punching her in the face in their home, causing her to fall to the floor.
He then kicked her throughout her body and struck her twice in the back of the head, authorities said.
Police said Castaneda also took the victim’s phone during the attack and locked her in the bedroom so he could “confirm his suspicions about her alleged contact with her ex-boyfriend.”
According to the arrest report, Castaneda also attacked the victim on Sunday after becoming intoxicated and calling her a “whore,” “b****” and “motherf***er.”
Police said the victim asked Castaneda to lower his voice because their children were asleep in an adjacent room, but things became violent after Castaneda allegedly tried to grab her phone as she was using it.
According to the report, the victim pushed Castaneda away and told him she would call the police.
Castaneda then punched the victim in the face multiple times and slapped her in the mouth, causing a cut to the area, authorities said.
He then took her phone and told her “You won’t be calling the police,” according to the report.
According to the report, the victim told police she felt “trapped” and “isolated” and was in fear for her life.
Police said Castaneda was taken into custody later in the day Monday after the victim filed the report. Photos were taken of multiple injuries on the victim’s body as evidence.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Castaneda remained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $23,500 bond.
If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, help is available 24/7 by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or texting BEGIN to 88788.