She hasn't left this house for without him. You won't let her go. And I did. My stomach was hurting. I didn't want to have he got mad about that. So, did you tell her yesterday or today that she couldn't leave the bed? I will never tell a woman die in my life. Monday, February 19th, 2024, Leburg, Florida. Police receive a call from a neighbor reporting that a woman needs help, possibly involving a hostage situation. This is an urgent and highly sensitive situation as the alleged aggressor is unaware of the call to authorities. Officers have to respond immediately to the location, but discretion is of the utmost importance to avoid making it worse. I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime. She can explain a little bit better and she's she doesn't want him to know. She doesn't know. He's threatening right now that he's going to have people go and beat people up and he's going to get guys with guns. Do you have a phone number for anybody in the house? Yeah, he pulled his phone. He had to cut his phone off. Okay. Okay. He as she asked us if we could just make it seem like something's wrong with her car or something to get her outside. That way she can talk to y'all and tell y'all what's going on. That way once she's outside she can be safer with y'all. And I don't know how to explain it because she scared me at this point and I want to go in there and just tell him can you leave the nice way? But how long you been living there? What's his name? Bernard Perez. Bernard Perez. He's on probation in P County. Black male, white male. At the residence, a couple greets the officers, informing them about the situation. And minutes earlier, a woman had come out of one of the apartments and asked for help with an issue with her car. Upon reaching the vehicle, she confessed the truth, asking them to call the police. Was the woman a victim of domestic violence and being threatened and held captive by her partner? At this point, I've been more hearing verbally abusing her. Okay. And it's it's scaring her to the point where she she doesn't. Okay. So, has he ever put hands on her before? Not that we are aware of. I'm not aware. And she says that he hasn't been not allowed to leave the house like a month or two since they've gotten. She hasn't left this house for month without him. Without him. He won't let her go. And he made her quit her job and everything. And y'all don't have a phone number for him? No, we don't. I don't any phone number in that house. We can call her phone. He made her cut it off and the only way she can talk to my wife is after she deletes the messages or she gets me on. He's 20. This is one of the messages I have from her about him. They sure they don't want to see all that. But it is what it is. Like I said, I would take him out of my own hands, but I don't want that situation. So that's why I come to y'all and that's only the fair opportunity. He's not just going to let me ask him leave. He's going to either want to fight me or try to hurt me is what he said. Obviously, I don't see that happen. I don't know what's we can get her and bring her out. She says she's witnesses state they had often heard shouting and insults coming from their neighbor's apartment and that they had never seen her leave alone which corroborates the victim's confession to her neighbors just minutes before. It appears the victim's partner identified as Bernard Perez Maldonado has had a history of police related assault and serious charges. Not only has he exhibited toxic behavior within the relationship, but he also restricted the victim's freedom, even forcing her to quit her job to prevent contact with the outside world. The situation sounds dire and officers need to find a way to get her out of there discreetly or things could quickly escalate. Okay. And right now, right now, Lieutenant wants us to make sure we get it contained. We need to get eyes all the way around it if we got to go down to it. Okay, that's what we can do. We can go right up here to take the next ride. It's on the point. So they they're looking at the front. So we'll need to get some people in the back and then kind of go from there. What kind of Sigma 14 should you get? There's really nothing about man him physically holding her. Mr. Rock, it's found he's like 33 her in the past. It's being very abusive and just it's telling her, "Hey, you're not leaving. You're not doing stuff." Apparently she's in the house right there. Uh is she the only one there? Him and her. Him and her. Okay. Nobody else is in that house. All right. We got two unmarks up there right now. The detectives have got eyes on the front of it. We're about probably parked down here and walk where we can get eyes all the way around. Um kind of go from there. They he said he made her his phone number. Um he did a host phone number for him. I haven't tried it yet. Okay. So, just to just to recap, they're using the term hostage. Yes. She's not free to leave. He's threatening to harm her. If what Death, do we know anything else? I hear it's quick. If she calls the cops or find law enforcement, he's going to honor potential. couldn't be anything specific wise. The only thing that um they were able to tell me or show me a text message where she was texting them through like Facebook Messenger and it says um he was threatening like call the cops and try to get him arrested that he's going to call his brother and people show up and and do harm cuz he's saying that Mhm. his brother and he's not saying he'll do the harm. He's going to call somebody. Planning how to enter the apartment. The officers confirmed that the victim is not only locked in, but also under threat. Maldonado allegedly warned that he would call armed third parties to attack anyone who got close to her if she asked for help or even tried to escape. The situation is complex and authorities fear that a single mistake could endanger the victim's life as well as the lives of any witnesses. How will they proceed? This mother Head over. Hey, show me your hands. Come here. Come here. Walk to me with your hands on. Walk backwards. All right. Walk backwards to me. All right. Walk backwards. Keep your hands up. I'm sorry. Walk backwards to me. Keep your hands up. All right. Walk backwards. Keep walking backwards. All right. Keep walking backwards. All right. Keep walking backwards. All right. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going. Keep walking backwards. All right. Don't look at me. Keep your hands off. You're just going to have a seat for now. All right. I'll get you one. I'll get you. All right. Thank you. And I like, you know, the first to know what this is about cuz I haven't done anything there. Yeah, it it's weird. You might as well not I wouldn't even put it on it. Can I Can I know what this is about? Yes. Give us one second. Just a minute. I got to go together and we'll talk about you know for me to get arrested for something I have. I'm not arrested. You're not arrested. You're just the team. I don't have a warrant or nothing, right? No, you just had no warrant or nothing like that. Your probation still good. All right, man. Cuz I did try to do my best. You're not going to do anything wrong. Just give us one second. Your probation's over in like 9 months, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. All right. Silently and with caution, officers managed to evacuate the other residents from the complex. And with Bernard present, they arrest him without revealing the situation to avoid putting the victim at risk. As he's led to the patrol car and in handcuffs, he asks why he's being arrested, claiming that he hasn't done anything wrong. Officers tell him he's simply being detained temporarily and avoid mentioning his partner at all costs. They need to take the victim's statement and better understand the situation to determine how to handle the aggressor. Okay. Are you injured at all? No. You don't want EMS to come check you out? No, I'm fine. Okay. What exactly happened? We had got into an argument earlier today. It I don't I don't even know now cuz my mind's all boggled. He wanted to take me. So, he threw a pit and threatened um some people that I know and said that he would call his his his uh brother-in-law and his friend and they have nine of them and they all have guns and they'll go after them. Well, I unless I said sorry for something that I said. I don't even remember what I said. So, I said sorry and uh and you know smooth everything over the best that I could. He wanted to take I let him take my brakes are about gone on my car, but I didn't know what else to do. I didn't want to stay home by myself. So then we got home last night um about 1:00. We were sitting there. I just started my monthly and I did my stomach was hurting. I didn't want to have Well, then he got mad about that and he said, "Well, and I told you nobody's going to tell me no at all period ever about." And I just looked at him and he said, "If that's what you're gonna do, then take me to my brother-in-laws." I said, "Okay, if that's fine, then I'll I'll take you to your brother-in-law's." And he said, "So that means you're not going to give it to me." I said, "My stomach's hurting. I can't." But then he got iate and mad because I said that I would take it to his brother-in-law's and he told me no, that I was going to give it to him whether I took him or not. He was going to get it before I even took him. I said, "So, I'm telling you no, but you're telling you that I'm going to do it to you either way." And he says, "Yes." I said, 'Well, where is that fair at? I told you my stomach's hurting.' He said, 'I'm telling you right now, you're going to do what I tell you to do or I'm getting my brother-in-law and my friend and their friends and there's none of us together and we're going to go find whoever you cheated on me with. I haven't even cheated on me. He's swearing. Then he was swearing up and down. I was cheating, running up and through the bathroom, doing his hand like this, and then telling me that I cheated. I cheated. I cheated. I I him up. I him up. I was like, "No, I didn't. I haven't done anything." And he was steady texting his brother-in-law. I don't know what he was saying to him cuz it was in Spanish, but he was telling me that they've already got the word. All I All he needs to do is tell them to go and they were to come get him. And they were going to find whatever friend was closest to me that I've known for a long time. and do something about it. So, unless I unless I gave into him and then I had to treat him like a king. I had to baby him this and kiss him and this and that. So, that's what I did to calm him down and leave it at that. Well, then it started all over again today. And at this time, I was in the shower and he kind of asked me who Jason was. I said, "I don't know who Jason." He made me block everybody on my Facebook. I said, "I don't know what Jason." He said, "Yes, you do. Don't lie to me. You know what Jason?" I've seen it on your Facebook. I've been on your Facebook. I said, Jason, a long time ago, but I haven't talked to nobody. He says, I've been on your Facebook. I see where you talked to and deleting your message. Said, "No, I haven't." Well, then again, he started with the I'm lying to him. He's going to get his brother-in-law and he was going to do this. He was texting his brother-in-law again. And then I I was like, "Look, I put everything on the Bible. I have not spoke to a Jason." And he said, "I'll tell you what. I know you lie to me, but since you don't want to tell me the truth, I won't forget, but I'll let it go. But you're going to treat me like a key today. You're going to make everything about me today. You're not going to leave this room. You're not going to be on your phone when I go to sleep. You're going to lay there in the bed and stare at me and this that the other." And he was following my every move. He wouldn't let me leave the bedroom. Nothing unless it was hit me. Now with the victim, she gives her statement to authorities. Nervous and distressed, she admits to being the victim of abuse and recounts being forced to have under threat, her partner's repeated aggressive behavior, scenes of jealousy, controlling all of her movements through her phone and social media activity, and the physical abuse she suffered whenever she contradicted him. From physical violence to verbal and psychological abuse, Maldonado has created the worst nightmare the victim could have ever lived through. And helps her. He blesses him. He told me that what whatever is done to him, however I made him hurt, he'll make me hurt what he said. And I don't know. I don't know. That's not the first time he's told me that. And this ain't the first time that we've got into an argument either. It's gotten bad at the house where he's thrown stuff in the house and all that. And I just I just wanted to leave. And he wouldn't let you leave at all. So, I'm going to grab you a piece of paper and it's just a statement. You're going to write everything that happened on that statement for me and then we're just going to sign it. Okay. All right. Hang tight for me just a moment. When you said that he wouldn't let you leave, was he physically stopping you from leaving or was he just telling you, "Hey, you're not leaving the room." He He told me that I wasn't He told me that I had to stay in the room. If I would have tried to stay in the room, he would have physically stopped me. He would have got in front of the door instead of Did you try to leave the room? No, because I've done it before and he has stopped me. So, I already know how he was going to act. So, I didn't want to escalate anything. I got you. Did he put his hands on you at all? No, other than pull me to him to get some legs, as he calls it. Okay. Did he say anything to you, threatening you in any way? Any sh anything like that? Just told me that any way that I hurt him, he'll make sure that I hurt. Okay. All right. He doesn't he doesn't care how. I mean, he's told me that he's told me about killing people and stuff before. I don't know how true it is, but it, you know, it freaks me out because I don't know if he's gonna try to Yeah, he has tried to bring a gun to my house. He was just talking about that earlier. Um, but you know, when when people start talking like that, you don't know what's true and what's not, if they're just a scare tactic or if they really need it. Okay. The victim had tried to escape multiple times, but was always stopped by her partner. While Maldonado never physically confined her to the apartment, he repeatedly threatened her, creating enough fear in her to prevent her from leaving without his consent. The situation is delicate, and despite the arrest of the aggressor, the victim continues to fear for her life. Talk to him. Nope. Okay. So, I'm going to go ahead and read you your Mander rights. Uh-huh. All right. So, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you before end and during any questioning. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before and during any questioning if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions. Or make any statements. Do you understand each of these constitutional rights I have explained to you? Yes, ma'am. Having confirmed your understanding of your constitutional rights, do you voluntarily and knowingly wave your constitutional rights and wish to speak to us now? Yes. I would like to know what this is about cuz as far as I know, I have not touched anybody. I have been doing good on my probation. I have not done anything or we only had maybe an argument that normal relationship has, you know. Okay. So, start by telling me do you know do you remember what happened last night? last night. Well, we had an argument, but it was about, you know, the money situation that we're in right now that we're trying to figure out. And, you know, I I all I've been doing is trying, you know, I'm been trying to work, you know, doing stuff. I I've been doing good in my probation. You know, I don't really deserve this. I know people there hate me for sure. You know, they don't want me here. I know, as far as she as far as I know, she made me feel like she did, but I I guess not now. Okay. you know, but I I even have told her before, hey, if you want me to leave, I'll come and m pick me up and I'll be out. After reading the Miranda rightites, Mald Donado begins to get nervous. According to statements, he claimed to have done nothing outside the law and says he's only been working. Regarding his partner, he mentions having some disagreements, but denies ever restricting her freedom. There are inconsistencies in his testimony and numerous justifications before the accusations, which confirms to the officers that the aggressor is aware of his actions. you know because I'm not here I'm not here every day you know I just come here because I do sometimes some type of work around here and I stay with her you know here and there and I have told the probation that you know so I have Okay so last night oh yes we did but she as always she we was she was willing to do it did you ask her to or she No it just happened it just happened naturally just happened naturally I mean we always play we play around we say stuff to each other but I we have not even argue about that stuff. Okay. What do you mean you guys play around like we you know like like I throw her give me some lace or she or you know stuff like that but I don't I don't you know we don't make something big on that you know. Gotcha. Okay. I just man I honestly man I need a secret. I need to call my mother cuz at least I would like her to know what's going on. Okay. So you So listen hold on let me recap. Y'all were arguing last night over financial issues over financial issues and as you know we just like any other normal relationship you know we we do have our arguments and stuff but I don't I do not you know I will never put a man a hand on on a on no woman in my life and she can't even she can't say I have cuz that's just you know so y'all are having an argument regular argument nobody touched anybody you didn't touch her I didn't touch her she didn't touch me I never come on okay you know all all I do here is stay here cuz she told me I could stay We heard. Did she try to leave last night? No. No. We We went to her grandmother's house. We went to her grandmother's house and we came back. Everything. I mean, everything was fine. When I saw the police there, I was like I thought I had a warrant cuz I didn't know what's going on, you know. I just want to be able to finish my probation, man, and just go get over this cuz it's it's been hard for me. I've been trying my best for I feel like I always something try to stop me, man. And I I I you think I I would be so stupid to try to do something and end up in a up situation. Come on. I'd rather just be out of here and just tell my mother pick me up and be out cuz if if they don't want me here anyway, why would I be here? That's that's not, you know, not right. I understand. I got you. I have and I have told her plenty of times, you know what? I'll leave or I'll call my mother or whatever. You know, we we had we had arguments. Yeah. You know, if I say no, I'll be lying. So, did you tell her yesterday or today that she couldn't leave the bed? Why would I say some stuff like that, man? I've never told her that. I will never told a woman that in my life. Tell her not to leave the room. No, I I I never have told her none of that stuff. I'm not I'm not I don't I don't I'm not I don't have the right to control nobody. All right. How long y'all been in a relationship? You know, I will be crazy in a few months. I would do some Yeah. You know, we I we we basically started, you know, we did had a crash cuz we started, you know, like real fast and stuff. You and her have no kids in common, right? No. All right. Have y'all ever lived together even briefly? Uh well, we stayed together, you know. I mean, we stay to sometimes, you know, hotel here and there like down in Dport cuz that's where where I live. I just stay here, you know, we heard was but on the probation as far as I know, that's what I was told. I'm not I'm not worried about your what about your probation cuz it's PK County probation, not LA County probation. That's, you know, but that's between you and them. It's not between you, me, and them. Perfect. You know, I I I'm just asking if you and her have other have ever resided together like you're like you're a family. Like we're a family. You know, we we do I do stay here, you know, but I cannot be, you know, you know, I try not to be here long enough cuz Yeah, I know. You know. Okay. Has she ever lived with you? She ever No, I don't I don't have I I I live with my mother. Anybody else? Okay. He denies ever forcing his partner and insists that they're a couple with their conflicts like any other. But nothing in their relationship could be considered normal by the authorities, and Bernard has become increasingly nervous. The two accounts don't match up and the officers have to do everything possible to gather evidence or proof to determine the truth. So far, his past history is playing a key role along with the witnesses. That's what I told. Thank you. And these are for you. So the bottom pamphlet, if you look at the back of it, it's got the case number for the agency. So if you have any questions, you can call back and reference that case number. So, if should I call his mom or should I just block them all and let them find out he's in jail? I don't know what I should Well, he's going to get a chance to call whoever he wants whenever he gets to the jail. Um, he'll have to go through the booking process first and then uh he'll be able they'll put him in like a little booth, let him call. He'll call his mom or she'll call his brother along. Well, here's the thing. The jail jail conversations are recorded. Anytime you call out of the jail from one of the phones in there, it's all recorded. And they and it will translate, too. They do monitor them. They translate from Spanish, right? Yeah, they do translate too, right? Yeah, they can. I thought we also have some deputies that speak Spanish that can translate. So, all right. How would you know about getting your order? Um, an injunction. So, there's going to be a no victim contact order put in place until final disposition of this case already. Uh, yeah. Well, we we actually fill that out and submit it to the jail. I don't even I don't even have an his I know how to get to his mom's house. That's not none of your business. That that's you don't have like permanent any reason to worry about that. So don't worry about contacting his mom. Don't do anything for him. He's a grown man. He can make grown man decisions. No, I mean to get an induction on him permanently. Aren't Aren't they supposed to send him something at the address where he's supposed to be at? He'll get he'll get served by us. So if you go um tomorrow and get one cuz he's going to have a no bond for this. um he'll have to go to first appearance in the morning. If you go get one tomorrow, more than likely, he's probably still going to be in jail and we can just get a copy of the servant while he's at the jail. With the report containing the descriptions the victim provided, one of the officers hands her anformational pamphlet on how to proceed in cases of and domestic violence. The police are doing everything they can to support and protect the victim following protocol. They inform her of the legal process and explain how to obtain a restraining order. But will it be enough? Does he have anything in this house that's his? No, just clothes. Okay. And that's homeless. Okay. And if you get the injunction or the no victim contact order, he would have to come with us back to this house once he gets um once he bonds out of jail. He has 30 days until he gets released, right? Uh I don't remember what it is. It's something like that. And uh by any chance did you hear anything going on today? Yeah, ma'am. Um when I woke up, I walked out of the room and I heard him trying to teach her how to speak Spanish, but that's about it. He fought all night long. Yeah, but he was probably making it look like they weren't arguing. When you go like anybody's around or anything, if he hears any type of movement or something or it feels like somebody's listening, he'll act like nothing's happening. Yeah. And even when we come over because she says that she's scared, she'll say that nothing's happening and he'll come out and act fine. But when I stayed here last night, I heard a Morgan all night long. And one of the conversations was over um and some dude Jason, but she kept denying kept denying and you hear her trying to stick up for herself, but he gets louder and louder and that's what woke me up out of my sleep as I'm arguing. Okay. So that's that's what I knew and was able to hear halfway asleep. Okay. But it's just been constantly every day. every day holding her against her will. She can't call us. She can't go nowhere with us. He literally sat around my grandmother's house for two hours, almost 3 hours, and it made her get in the car and come back home with him. Um, and then one more question for you. I know you said it wasn't like physical, like he didn't hit you or anything, but do you have any like bruises or anything from him? Okay. All right. Let me go double check with him and then I'll let you guys know. Okay. The witness statements become crucial to the case and authorities have to take note of every detail. With more confirmations of the facts, it's enough to proceed and arrest Maldonado. Can I know what's going on now? Yeah, you're going to be placed under arrest. Um, it's going to be for um false imprisonment and battery battery. Come on, man. So, there's no way I can smoke, man. I tried being trying to cooperate. Can I get a cigarette, man? I know. I know. But you She's almost done. We got to get out of here. I can't just sit here and let you smoke a cigarette for five or 10 minutes. We got to go. No, but it'll be quick, man. Please do me a favor, man. We've already been here long enough. I I don't know what they talking about. Do they have any proof? What's that? Do they have any proof? I have enough to establish probable cause for your arrest for it. It's all I need. I have my Here's the thing. Here's the thing. What I need to make an arrest is probable cause. For you to get actually convicted of it, the state has to pro have proof beyond reasonable doubt. Okay? Just because you're charged with something does not mean that you're going to get convicted of it. Do will do Will Do I have a bond or something? Uh they just changed the bond schedule a few months ago. So you have to go to first appearance. It's that way for just about everything now. I I really don't I really don't don't get it, man. Cuz your battery, man. Like I said, man, just because you get charged with it doesn't mean you Yeah, man. But you know, this is a real bad situation for something I did not do, you know. I got you. I need to see some proof of that going on because that's not I got you. That's just man. Bernard Perez Maldonado, age 24, is arrested on charges of unlawful imprisonment and assault. He would be transported to the Lake County Jail with a bond set at $35,000. [Music]