Allentown man admits to assaulting pregnant woman in Hatfield, Pennsylvania
An Allentown, Pennsylvania, man admitted to assaulting a pregnant woman carrying their unborn child last week in Hatfield, Montgomery County, according to a criminal complaint.
Raymond Bautista was charged with aggravated assault of an unborn child, aggravated assault and other offenses for the assault that happened last Thursday on the 2000 block of Maple Avenue.
Bautista told police during an interview on Monday after his arrest that he attacked the woman because she was "talking [expletive]" about him at work, and he knew she was pregnant, a criminal complaint said. Bautista and the woman worked together at Clemens Food Group in Hatfield.
The attack was captured on a neighbor's Ring camera at the Hatfield Village Apartments at around 4:30 a.m.
Police said the woman was leaving her apartment building and heading to work when she was hit from behind by Bautista, who was wearing all black and a black ski mask. According to the criminal complaint, Bautista kicked her in the back and stomach and punched her in the face. The woman screamed for help, and Bautista then fled the scene.
According to medical records from Grand View Hospital, the woman suffered nasal bone fractures, abrasions and bruising. The injuries will require further follow-up appointments with the ear, nose and throat doctor to repair, according to the complaint.
Police said they arrived at the scene and found the woman bleeding from her nose and complaining of hip and back pain. She also had blood on her gray sweater and her sleeves. A bloody blanket was also found at the building entrance where the assault happened, according to a criminal complaint.
Police said Bautista called out from work at Clemens Food Group the day of the assault, and he was seen driving his car on multiple license plate readers near the area of the assault and on the way back to his home in Allentown.
Before admitting to the assault on Monday, police said that Bautista denied driving the car when it was caught on multiple LPRs last week heading back from Montgomery County.
Police said they found the ski mask and dark gloves inside the car after obtaining a search warrant that were worn by Bautista during the assault. He initially said they were for his job, but admitted he wore them when attacking the woman, according to the criminal complaint.
The criminal complaint said that Bautista told the woman he didn't want to be involved with the child's life, and that he wanted her to take an emergency contraceptive. She wanted to keep the baby, police said.
Bautista was arraigned on Monday night. The judge set his bail at $75,000 unsecured, which means he didn't have to put up any money and was released.
A spokesperson for the Montgomery County District Attorney's office said they filed an emergency motion for bail reconsideration. A bail hearing is scheduled for 8:45 a.m on Wednesday.
