A man faces home invasion and other charges for allegedly breaking into a woman’s home in Tolland last week and assaulting her in violation of a protective order issued after a previous incident last year.
Gelbert Fuentes, 32, of Hamden was taken into custody Wednesday after being located by officers with the Hamden Police Department, according to Connecticut State Police. He was turned over to troopers who had a warrant for his arrest.
Fuentes faces charges of home invasion, disorderly conduct, interfering with an emergency call, violation of protective order, third-degree assault and second-degree unlawful restraint.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, a woman called police last Thursday to report a domestic disturbance around 8 p.m. but initially would not give authorities the suspect’s name after he had left her home. She claimed that she came home and found that the man had smashed an Xbox, and when she confronted him about it she could allegedly smell that he had been drinking, the warrant affidavit said.
The woman alleged that he started smashing the Xbox more and shoved her so she called 911, according to the warrant affidavit.
Hours later, the woman called police again around 2 a.m. and claimed that the man had returned to her home where he allegedly broke in and assaulted her, the warrant affidavit said. The woman told troopers she was nearly asleep when Fuentes allegedly entered the home and got on top of her, putting pressure on her neck with his forearm, state police wrote.
The woman told police he was allegedly upset about being locked out of the home and demanded money back that he had previously given her, the warrant affidavit said. She claimed that he took her phone and smart watch so she could not call police.
After letting her off the bed, the woman claimed that Fuentes refused to let her leave the bedroom, allegedly shoving her toward the bed when she tried, according to the warrant affidavit. At one point, she claimed that she started swinging to create space between them, but he allegedly shoved her so hard that her head ended up under the bed, the warrant affidavit said. She claimed that she lied on the ground and cried because she felt trapped.
Fuentes, she said, eventually let her out of the room but allegedly would not let her get away from him, according to the warrant affidavit. She alleged that he refused to leave when told to get out and that he allegedly started shoving her again, state police wrote. She said she also thought he was trying to provoke her into hitting him.
The woman claimed that Fuentes gave her cell phone back after she was able to get out of the home, the warrant affidavit said. He left the area when he thought she was calling police, she said.
The woman later found that Fuentes had allegedly gotten into her home through a garage window, the warrant affidavit said.
After leaving for about 20 minutes, she said, Fuentes allegedly returned to the home and tried to get back inside, the warrant affidavit said. He allegedly tried to force the basement door open and then began knocking on the front door repeatedly, according to the warrant.
The woman said she called 911 after Fuentes was allegedly able to get in through the back door and enter her bedroom, the warrant affidavit said. When troopers arrived, they found Fuentes’ vehicle parked outside but no sign of him, state police wrote in the warrant.
Police also found that he was issued two protective orders in May 2024 following an incident that the woman described as the first time he allegedly “got physical” with her, the warrant affidavit said. She said he was arrested. The orders that were put in place prohibited Fuentes from assaulting the woman, contacting her or going to her home, the warrant affidavit said.
Troopers used a K-9 to search the home, but Fuentes could not be found. They also tried conducting a track outside with no luck.
According to the warrant affidavit, the woman declined to go to a hospital. Troopers took multiple photos of injuries seen on her arms.
State police made a safety plan with the victim, who told troopers her juvenile daughter was in the home but had slept through everything that had happened. The woman was able to email a video to troopers that allegedly showed a struggle between her and Fuentes, the warrant affidavit said.
Fuentes was held on a $150,000 bond and was expected to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Wednesday.
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