Middletown Man Assaults Girlfriend, Strangles Child: Police

Middletown police received a 911 call from a 13-year-old boy at approximately 12:44 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5. He said his mother was being physically assaulted by her boyfriend, according to a Jan. 5 arraignment report.

An investigation revealed that Bernardo Nunez-Rivera, 33, of Middletown, was living with his girlfriend and her three sons, aged 13, 10 and 9.

The 13-year-old son told police he woke up to hear Nunez-Rivera and his mother arguing and also heard his mother crying.

When the son walked into the bedroom he reportedly saw Nunez-Rivera on top of his mother, allegedly hitting her in the face.

“He jumped in and tried to separate them,” police wrote. “Mr. Nunez-Rivera then [allegedly] grabbed him by the neck and choked him.”

Nunez-Rivera then broke the son’s Playstation 3 beyond repair, police said.

The female victim told police that she and Nunez-Rivera were arguing about an Xbox. Nunez-Rivera made the same statement.

“She denied being assaulted by Mr. Nunez-Rivera and stated that she may have fallen into the wall and sustained the injury to her mouth/lip,” according to the police report.

Police said Nunez-Rivera had an odor of alcohol on his breath. He reportedly told police he started drinking at 4 p.m. and drank 10 beers.

Nunez-Rivera was taken into police custody and arrested on the following charges:

• Risk of injury to a child
• Criminal mischief in the third degree
• Disorderly conduct
• Assault in the third degree
• Strangulation in the second degree

He is being held on $20,000 bond and was issued a Monday, Jan. 5, court date.

(Photo via Middletown Police)