Raymond Police arrested a man in connection with an alleged domestic assault.

RAYMOND — A man was arrested by the Raymond Police Department after his spouse called 911 and stated the couple had been fighting. The incident unfolded on the 200 Block of 13th Street on Feb. 16 at 9:47 a.m.

The woman told the responding officer that she woke up that morning feeling as if she had been “drugged” and that it may have been by her spouse. She also told the officer that she didn’t feel safe when she woke up.

According to court records, the woman spoke to her spouse about how she was feeling and that she did not feel safe. Richard A. Hartman, 33, reportedly became agitated with her and tried to take a young child and leave the residence.

“[The alleged victim] advised me that Hartman has been physical to her in the past, and the most recent was on [Feb. 1],” Michael Oropeza-Ramirez, the investigating officer, states in court records. “[She] explained to me that she and Hartman got into an argument and that Hartman ‘choked’ her out.”

“I asked [her] if there was any marks on her. [She] advised me that after the ‘choking,’ she went to her room and took pictures of the bruising,” the officer continued. “[She] advised me that her [child] had a [sports event] down the road from their house. [She] then showed me pictures of her bruising after the incident with timestamp of when she took the picture.”

What to do

The case was in limbo, with the alleged incident occurring approximately two weeks before the 911 call on Feb. 16.

An officer reportedly attempted to call the Pacific County Prosecutor’s Office for a formal decision, but was unable to make contact.

However, officers located Hartman on Fowler Road and got his side of the chain of events leading up to the 911 call. He alleged they were having a verbal argument and he left the residence to get away.

“Hartman advised me that [she] woke up and was yelling at Hartman, telling him that she is scared of him and that Hartman might have drugged her,” Oropeza-Ramirez states. “Hartman advised that he did not drug her and that he does not have any drugs or takes any drugs.”

The alleged victim went to stay at another location so that Hartman could retrieve belongings if needed.

Wasn’t as it seemed?

He also insinuated that he wasn’t attempting to take the child and was hugging the kid before he left, which resulted in his spouse yelling at him. Hartman also stated he didn’t assault the woman during the previous incident and only “moved her but did not ‘choke’ her or hurt her.”

According to court records, officers did not immediately arrest Hartman because they could not speak with a prosecutor for legal advice. At 12:10 p.m., officers were able to talk with a prosecutor and were advised they could arrest Hartman.

He was located and arrested for second-degree assault strangulation for the incident that transpired on Feb. 1. He was booked into Pacific County Jail Services. He made a preliminary appearance in Pacific County Superior Court on Feb. 18.

Hartman’s bail was set at $25,000 and he is scheduled to appear for an arraignment hearing on Feb. 21. He has since posted bail.

Past filing

The woman also reported that the couple was involved in a previous protection order. Court records show that a protection order was filed on April 6, 2023, when a temporary order was put in place.

In the complaint, the petitioner states that “The abuse that I have suffered from Richard is an up and down cycle” and also later states, “…during the pregnancy, he physically abused me and even tried to suffocate me with a blanket over my head…I am scared that the abuse will continue to happen…”

According to court records, the petitioner filed a motion to terminate the protection order on April 7, 2023. It is extremely common for alleged victims to seek dismissal of a protection order, for a litany of reasons.