Dad charged with assaulting mom, trying to take the kids (Burlington, Iowa)

Dad RICHARDO GUAJARDO has been charged with attacking his girlfriend, the mother of their 3 children, while she was holding their 8-month-old baby. Dad was somehow able to get hold of all the kids and apparently told the mother that he would "kill all of them (children) before you take them from me." He then took off with them. The mom followed, and was eventually able to call 911.

http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/Knife-attack-091109

Father accused of assaulting woman, trying to take kids
Man jailed after alleged knife attack.

By JOHN MANGALONZO

jmangalonzo@thehawkeye.com

What started an argument between Ricardo Guajardo and his 21-year-old girlfriend remains unclear, but the 43-year-old man now is jailed on accusations he attacked the woman with a knife while she held their 8-month-old child.

In one instance, Guajardo allegedly threw the 8-month-old boy to the ground.

Police have charged him with domestic abuse assault, child endangerment and obstructing emergency communication. He is being held on $13,000 bail. A no-contact order has been placed in the case.

It all started with a frantic call from the woman, identified in court papers as Querida Marie Prieto, Wednesday night where she claimed Guajardo had just assaulted and tried to stab her. Dispatchers lost contact with the woman before more information could be gathered.

Officers responded to the 2500 block of Flint Hills Drive. Prieto told officers she has three children -- a 3-year-old boy, a 2-year-old girl and an 8-month old boy -- with Guajardo, identifying the man as her alleged assailant.

She reportedly told police she was inside their home when an upset Guajardo came in, and the two began to argue.

According to the investigation, Guajardo allegedly pulled out a knife and came after the woman in the hallway. He reportedly started to punch Prieto in the face, strangling her at times and threatening to kill her, police said.

Court papers indicate Guajardo attempted to slash the woman with the knife on the neck but missed. Police said Prieto was holding their 8-month-old child throughout the attack.

The altercation progressed, police said, with Guajardo allegedly pulling the woman by the hair and dragging her into the kitchen where he retrieved another knife.

Prieto was able to run out of the home and attempted to call for help. Guajardo, on the other hand, propped the 2-year-old on his shoulders and carried both the 8-month-old and the 3-year-old.

Police said Prieto came back inside and, according to her statement, begged Guajardo to put the children down.

An initial complaint on the case indicated Prieto telling officers Guajardo got angrier and threatened to "kill all of them (children) before you take them from me."

Guajardo took off toward the Greenway Apartments area, and Prieto soon followed.

The woman told police Guajardo, in the 2400 block of Valley Street, allegedly threw the child to the ground and then went after her, repeatedly punching her in the face.

Prieto, police said, tried to call 911 from her cell phone, which Guajardo snatched and threw to the ground.

Guajardo managed to take the 3-year-old and run from the scene while Prieto was looking for the phone, which she found and called for help, police said.

Officers located Guajardo in the 2500 block of Washington Street where he was arrested. The boy was unharmed.