A man is in custody after his girlfriend reported she had been kicked by her boyfriend during a domestic altercation Monday evening.
At about 11:20 p.m., a Ginger Drive resident called 911 to report her boyfriend, Rico Nelson, Jr., had kicked her and she was standing in front of his vehicle preventing him from leaving until police arrived.
The victim said she and Nelson got into an argument and he kicked her in the chest and stomach area in front of their infant child. Officers observed a red mark on the victim’s chest.
Although the victim did not want to press charges, Nelson, 23, of Ruston was arrested for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment and booked at the detention center.
In domestic cases, most law enforcement agencies follow state law and departmental policies that encourage arrests when there is probable cause that an assault has occurred as an effort to stem further violence. Records indicated to the investigating officers that the victim had reported Nelson battered her several times in the past but fled before officers arrived.
Nelson’s bail was set at $15,000.
