Idaho Man Held on Domestic Violence Charges After Parking Lot Attack

An Idaho man attacked a woman in a parking lot, allegedly because she was walking too slowly. According to law enforcement in the Gem State, the man was taken into custody on May 21, three days after the incident occurred. However, the victim reported that the violence started days before.

The suspect has been identified as Ronny Aloimar Escalante-Nino, 28. He was charged with two counts of domestic violence, inflicting traumatic injury. He was also charged with domestic battery or assault in the presence of a child.

While a walking-related incident occurred on May 18, the actual violence started days before, said authorities. According to the victim, on May 16, Escalante-Nino attacked her as she was leaving a building on East Rockwood Avenue in Iona, a small town that is located about 9 miles northeast of Idaho Falls.

According to the court documents obtained by the East Idaho News, the violence happened in front of the victim’s young daughter. The incident report stated that as the woman and her daughter were leaving the building together, Escalante-Nino “became upset because (the victim) was too slow following him to the car for lunch.”

As he began arguing with her, she tried to call a family member for help. However, the man allegedly “ripped the phone out of her hand and hit her with it on the wrist.” Deputies said that there were bruises on her wrist, which corroborated her claims.

The situation quickly escalated as Escalante-Nino slapped the woman behind one of her ears. According to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, he also punched her in the shoulder and forehead.

On May 19, the victim visited the local Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center. At that time, the injuries she sustained from the attack were still visible. A nurse confirmed that she had a “large bruise on (the victim’s leg), wrist, shoulder, and head.”

The woman told officers that the defendant is “often physically abusive toward her.” She told them about the violence she faced in the past few days. Authorities also said that the woman’s daughter, who witnessed the attack, told the nurse that Escalante-Nino “hits her mommy.”

As seen in surveillance footage from the parking lot, the man was walking alongside the victim as her young daughter followed behind. Moments later, Escalante-Nino is seen holding a cellphone and pointing at the woman who was seemingly crying. Another woman told the officers that the victim returned from lunch crying.

Escalante-Nino is now being held in the Bonnevile County Jail on $25,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 3.