A Tama man was charged with assault Sunday morning after allegedly injuring his girlfriend in a West Des Moines motel.
Manuel Enrique Contreras, 35, of 905 Park Ave., Tama, was charged with first-offense domestic abuse assault-bodily injury or mental illness and interference with official acts.
The incident began about 4:15 a.m. at a motel in the 200 block of Jordan Creek Parkway.
Officers of the West Des Moines Police Department made contact with the victim, who said that Contreras allegedly “struck her in the back of the head with an open hand, causing an observable lump on her head that officers could feel.”
The victim told the officers “that she tried to leave the hotel room,” but Contreras allegedly “blocked the door with a chair and physically prevented her from leaving,” according to court records.
When the officers attempted to take Contreras into custody, he allegedly “pulled his arms and twisted to break the hold officers had on” him, according to court records.
Contreras also allegedly “refused to provide a PBT sample of his breath to show an alcohol content of his breath to determine if he needed medical clearance for jail,” according to court records.
Contreras was held in the Dallas County Jail in advance of an initial appearance in Dallas County District Court.
Contreras was convicted of first-offense domestic abuse assault in 2015 in Osceola County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
