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Christopher Pereyra Pena, 28, was arrested after officers responded to a domestic disturbance on North Lincoln Avenue and Tiffany Lane in Lebanon at 6:22 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, according to the Lebanon City Police Department.
A witness, Eylianna Hernandez, told police that Pena punched the victim, Yohanna Taveras, in the face multiple times and dragged her down the street by her hair, officers said in court documents.
Taveras, who identified Pena as her boyfriend, said he had anger problems when he did not take his medication, according to police. She told officers that he pushed her down the stairs, causing her to hit her head on a step. Police observed a bump on her forehead, and she was taken to Hershey Medical Center for treatment, authorities said.
Pena was charged with Misdemeanor Simple Assault and detained at Lebanon County Prison.
While in custody, officials determined that Pena met the criteria for an ICE detainer under a new county initiative assisting federal immigration enforcement. ICE agents lodged the detainer, initiating deportation proceedings separate from his criminal case, the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office said.
"Protecting the citizens of Lebanon County from criminals is always the highest priority of my Office," District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said in a statement. "Illegal criminals residing within county lines will be identified and removed."
Pena remains held on both the criminal charge and the ICE detainer, officials said.
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