Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Jake Hill was booked into the Graham County jail on charges of assault, disorderly conduct, and aggravated criminal damage after a dispute with his girlfriend.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man was jailed on three domestic violence-related charges Saturday after for allegedly hitting his girlfriend’s SUV with a rock and wrestling with her over her phone.
Jake Hill, 35, of Safford, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, and aggravated criminal damage – all with the domestic violence designation.
Safford officers were dispatched at about 12:23 p.m. to a residence on W. 16th Street regarding a domestic violence situation and located Hill and his girlfriend standing near the woman’s white SUV.
Hill initially called for the police and claimed that his girlfriend had stolen $800 from him and also presents he had on layaway he intended to give to their children. Hill said he had just gotten off the night shift from work and his girlfriend asked him to stay. He said she then took his money card with the balance of $800 on it and his cell phone and that he wrestled with her in an attempt to get it back. He then allegedly admitted to throwing a rock at her SUV as she got in the vehicle in an attempt to prevent her from leaving. The SUV had damage on its hood consistent with being hit by a rock.
The girlfriend had a bit of a different story and said Hill came over to her residence without an invitation after she informed him that she had covered up her wedding ring finger tattoo of his name with flowers.
She said Hill then came over and tried to take her phone to go through it to see if she had been texting or talking with another man.
The victim said she refused to give up her phone and the pair started wrestling inside and that then poured over to the outside as she attempted to get within earshot of her brother who lives nearby.
During the melee, the victim suffered lacerations to her elbow when Hill allegedly threw her to the ground.
Hill insisted his girlfriend was lying and that he didn’t care who she was talking to because he was leaving her. Hill was not wearing a shirt when conversing with the officer and no signs of injury were seen on his body.
Hill was then placed under arrest for the above-listed charges and transported to the jail.