Pair of separate assaults land 2 in jail

GONZALES — Reports of assault family violence led to the arrests of two local men last week, police say.

On April 26, Sgt. J.D. Holt met with a complainant in regards to an assault, Capt. Allen Taylor reported. The victim said her boyfriend had struck her in the head with his hand.

Holt went to the residence, located in the 100 block of Qualls St., and spoke with a male victim who said the same man had hit him and thrown him on the floor. Holt noticed red marks on the victim’s arm that were consistent with the victim’s account. The officer arrested Milton Dennis Jones, 30, of Gonzales, and took him to Gonzales County Jail. Jones is charged with assault family violence.

On April 29, Officer Travis Sowell was dispatched to the intersection of Knight and St. Joseph Sts. in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival Sowell identified the suspect as Roger Rivera, 53, of Gonzales.

During questioning Rivera said he and his brother (the victim) had gotten into an argument, and that Rivera had picked up a stick and began swinging it at him – but missed. Taylor said the victim picked up a metal pipe and threw it at Rivera and missed. Rivera in turn picked up the pipe and threw it back, but also missed. The victim then left the scene in his car.

As questioning continued, the victim returned to the scene and told the officer Rivera had actually hit him with the stick. Sowell noticed a red mark on the victim’s arm consistent with the report of the injury, Taylor said.

“The brother said [Rivera] had shot at his vehicle with a pellet rifle,” Taylor said. “The officer observed a dent in the vehicle which was consistent with what the brother was saying.”

Rivera was arrested and taken to Gonzales County Jail. He is charged with assault family violence and criminal mischief.