A Ruston man was arrested Tuesday after police investigated a report of an assault on a woman by an acquaintance.
Utsav Siwakoti, 23, of Ruston, was arrested on December 9 for second degree battery following a woman’s complaint that he attacked her and struck her several times resulting in her treatment at a local hospital.
Ruston Police responded to a residence on North Farmerville Street at about 1:30 a.m. where a woman was found bleeding from her nose and mouth. The woman’s lips were swollen, her left eye was discolored, and two of her front teeth were missing. Blood was seen on the floor and walls of the residence.
The woman said she, her friend and Siwakoti had been drinking. She and her friend had a disagreement, and she had taken the friend home. After she returned to the residence, Siwakoti knocked on her door, stating he wanted to talk to her about the disagreement. Once she let Siwakoti inside, he raised his voice and prevented her from leaving by blocking her door.
After several attempts to leave, Siwakoti slammed the door shut and attached the woman, according to her statement. She was unaware of how many times she was struck by Siwakoti.
The woman was transported by Ruston Ambulance Service to the hospital.
Siwakoti was located and questioned. A small reddish scratch was seen on his nose and another on his right cheek. Siwakoti said he and the woman got into a verbal altercation due to the woman making a rude comment to him. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for second degree battery.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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