Demotte Man Charged in Domestic Battery Case Involving Pregnant Victim and Public Safety Officials
According to court documents, on July 23, 2025, police were dispatched to a residence in the 7800 block of West County Road 996 North in Demotte for a report of a domestic incident.
A woman reported that Rogelio Mendieta Garcia had grabbed at her chest and shirt in an aggressive way, grabbing her flesh. She stated she was pregnant and felt endangered. She said the incident occurred in the presence of their two children and that Garcia also took her purse and began tearing it apart, broke sentimental items, and tried to take her phone while she was calling police. She locked him out of the residence, and he allegedly attempted to break the door down.
When police attempted to arrest Garcia, he refused to provide identification and physically resisted. He reportedly continued to resist while being taken to a squad car, including dropping to the ground, hitting the inside of the car door, exiting aggressively, and thrashing, which caused a squad car window to break and resulted in injuries to an officer.
Court documents state Garcia grabbed, bit at, and spit on multiple officers, and also grabbed a paramedic during transport, refusing to let go. A notice of intent to seek an enhanced penalty was filed based on a 2022 conviction for strangulation in Pulaski County.
Charges filed August 11, 2025:
• Domestic Battery with Bodily Injury to a Pregnant Woman – Level 5 Felony
• Battery with Bodily Injury to a Public Safety Officer – Level 5 Felony (2 counts)
• Resisting Law Enforcement – Causes Moderate Bodily Injury – Level 5 Felony
• Domestic Battery Committed in the Presence of a Child Less Than 16 Years Old – Level 6 Felony
• Domestic Battery – Prior Conviction for Battery or Strangulation – Level 6 Felony
• Intimidation – Threat to Commit a Forcible Felony – Level 6 Felony
• Battery Against a Public Safety Official (Attempted) – Level 6 Felony
• Battery by Bodily Waste; Victim is a Public Safety Officer – Level 6 Felony (3 counts)
• Interference with Reporting of a Crime (Attempted) – Class A Misdemeanor
• Resisting Law Enforcement – Class A Misdemeanor
• Criminal Mischief – Class B Misdemeanor
• Refusal to Identify Self – Class C Misdemeanor
A Jasper County cash bond of $1,000 was entered in the clerk’s office on July 28, 2025.
