Man allegedly hit GF with car

A man is being accused of hitting his girlfriend with a car in a fit of rage and the Superior Court has imposed a $10,000 cash bail for his temporary release.

Superior Court Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan imposed last Tuesday a $10,000 cash bail on Saimon R. Topias, 52, who has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with domestic violence, and disturbing the peace- domestic violence.

After failing to post bail last Tuesday, Bogdan remanded Topias back to Department of Corrections custody where he will remain, pending further court proceedings. Topias was ordered to return to court on Nov. 1 at 10am for his preliminary hearing; his arraignment was set for Nov. 6 at 9am.

According to court documents, police officer Steven Castro responded last Sunday, Oct. 22, at around 4:47pm to a reported domestic disturbance next to Mobil Gas Station in Koblerville.

Upon arriving, Castro noted that the alleged victim was crying on a patch of grass next to a beige Corolla vehicle and a concrete power pole. Castro noted in his report that the woman appeared to be in shock and in pain.

Just a few feet away, Castro said he saw off-duty officer Lt. Elias Saralu holding Topias down on the ground. Topias was allegedly resisting arrest.

Castro learned from Saralu that he witnessed Topias hit his girlfriend with the beige Corolla, hurling her several feet into the grassy area where she had been found.

After witnessing this, Saralu said he drove to the woman, got off his car, and blocked Topias off. This allegedly prompted Topias to get out of his car and try to start a fight with the off-duty officer. Saralu added that Topias didn’t back down even when he identified himself as a police officer.

During the altercation, Saralu said Topias lunged at the woman, prompting him to restrain him on the ground until officers arrived.

Saralu told officers that prior to Topias hitting his girlfriend with the car, he witnessed the two at the intersection just next to Mobil. He said he saw the woman get out of the car and was trying to get her cellphone, but Topias got off the car, yanked her hair, punched her, then took her phone and smashed it on the ground.

After this, Saralu said the woman ran south but Topias got back into the car, made a U-turn, and drove straight into the woman, hitting her.

As Topias was making another U-turn back to the woman, Saralu had already driven over and stepped in.