Man arrested for hitting woman with rock over food stamp card

A man was arrested for allegedly hitting a woman on the head with a rock amid a heated argument regarding a food stamp card.

Jose Celis Lizama, 54, has been charged with of assault with a dangerous weapon to include domestic violence, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

During a bail hearing last week, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho imposed a $20,000 cash bail on the defendant before remanding him back to Department of Corrections custody.

According to a Department of Public Safety report, DPS received a call from a woman on Monday, Feb. 28, at around 11:32am asking for police assistance at a home in Chalan Kanoa.

Police Sgt. Bradford Peter, who responded to the call at around 11:34am, said that, as he approached the residence, he saw two men standing along the road and a woman shouted that Lizama assaulted her and was pointing at the defendant.

Peter said he secured Lizama in his police car before checking on the woman who had shouted earlier. Peter said the alleged victim claims that Lizama had just arrived at her residence and started harassing her and her boyfriend about a food stamp card.

The victim accused Lizama of hitting her on the back of her head with a rock. Peter noted that he noticed a rock the size of a baseball in a grassy area across the residence with what seemed to be a bloodstain on it.

The victim was transported to the Commonwealth Health Center for treatment while police officer Giancarlo Evangelista took photos of the rock before taking it in as evidence.

Police also spoke to the victim’s boyfriend, who said Lizama had driven by their house earlier and called him names. Soon after, Lizama allegedly came back and got into an argument with his girlfriend over a food stamp card.

The victim’s boyfriend also told police that Lizama allegedly slapped the victim multiple times before picking up a rock and hitting the victim multiple time behind the head.

In a follow up interview with the victim at CHCC, she said Lizama became angry because when he came looking for the food stamp card, she told him she had given it to his daughter.

She also told police that Lizama punched her several times before attempting to punch her boyfriend. She said she got in between the two men, leading to her getting punched again.

During this time, Lizama allegedly attempted to leave the home, but took with him a nearby cell phone, so the couple followed him to demand that he give the phone back.

This allegedly led to Lizama punching the victim again and while the victim’s boyfriend tried to intervene, Lizama grabbed a rock and hit the victim about three or four times before throwing the rock as he heard the police coming.