A Buckeye man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after police say he entered a residence where he previously lived, assaulted another man sleeping inside and later admitted to taking and destroying a cellphone.
Joaquin Tovar Caballero has been charged with two felonies, Criminal Damage-Deface and Theft-Control Property, as well as several misdemeanor charges related to fighting with the residents of the home.
According to court documents, the incident occurred around 6:05 a.m. on Sunday.
Investigators said the suspect entered the home of a woman he knew while she and another man were asleep in a bedroom. Police stated in court documents that the suspect woke the male victim by punching him in the face with a closed fist.
The victim told officers he attempted to defend himself by kicking the suspect away and standing on the bed. During the struggle, the suspect is accused of grabbing the victim's ankles, but the victim was able to break free, according to court documents. In the process, he stepped on the woman, who was still asleep and awoke confused by the commotion, according to Buckeye police.
According to police, the male victim then grabbed the woman's cellphone and attempted to call 911. When the woman got out of bed, the suspect is accused of pushing her while trying to reach the man, according to Buckeye police.
Authorities said the suspect fled the residence after realizing the victim was calling for help. As he left, he took the male victim's cellphone before driving away prior to officers arriving on scene, according to police.
Using a phone-tracking application, the victims later located the missing cellphone near the entrance of the apartment complex. Police said the red Apple iPhone, valued at approximately $1,200, had been damaged and was no longer operational, according to court documents.
During a post-Miranda interview with detectives, the suspect admitted taking the phone and throwing it, according to court records. However, he denied participating in the physical altercation.
The suspect told investigators that he was still listed on the lease for the residence and claimed both occupants were awake when he entered the home.
The case remains under review by prosecutors.
Everyone is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The information contained in this story is not intended to be an expression of opinion regarding guilt.
