Upstanding DSM citizen's 30th arrest just a misunderstanding
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:19 pm
A Des Moines man was charged Friday with kidnapping, assault with intent to commit serious injury and first-degree harassment after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend over a period of several hours.
Roman Luna, 34, of 330 E. Creston Ave., is accused of keeping Kyla Hyler, 24, in a bedroom of his house for some eight hours. Police said he assaulted her repeatedly.
Luna has been arrested 30 times on 59 charges since 1994, according to Polk County Jail records.
Hyler told police that Luna assaulted her for 41/2 hours straight until he finally passed out around3:30 a.m. Friday.
During the assault, police said, Luna strangled Hyler, covered her nose and mouth with his hand in an apparent attempt to suffocate her, and repeatedly told her he was going to kill her.
At one point, according to the victim, Luna hit her on the back of the head 20 times with his fist and elbow. He also punched her in the eye and nose, police said.
Officers said Hyler’s nose was bloody and bruised, she had cuts inside her mouth and on her lips. She had a bite mark on her shoulder and her head throbbed from the constant beatings.
Police said Luna woke up at 6:45 a.m. Friday, gave Hyler a kiss and told her to have a great day.
Hyler reported the crime to police later Friday morning, and an officer took a report at police headquarters. Officers were sent to arrest Luna.
Informed that Luna was in custody, Hyler told police by phone that she’d been diagnosed with a concussion but did not have broken bones.
Police said the incident started on Thursday when Hyler went out with Luna. He became verbally abusive in the car, Hyler told investigators. She decided to drop him off at his home, but he would not cooperate.
Luna grabbed Hyler by the hair, took her car keys and dragged her into his house by her hair, police said
Roman Luna, 34, of 330 E. Creston Ave., is accused of keeping Kyla Hyler, 24, in a bedroom of his house for some eight hours. Police said he assaulted her repeatedly.
Luna has been arrested 30 times on 59 charges since 1994, according to Polk County Jail records.
Hyler told police that Luna assaulted her for 41/2 hours straight until he finally passed out around3:30 a.m. Friday.
During the assault, police said, Luna strangled Hyler, covered her nose and mouth with his hand in an apparent attempt to suffocate her, and repeatedly told her he was going to kill her.
At one point, according to the victim, Luna hit her on the back of the head 20 times with his fist and elbow. He also punched her in the eye and nose, police said.
Officers said Hyler’s nose was bloody and bruised, she had cuts inside her mouth and on her lips. She had a bite mark on her shoulder and her head throbbed from the constant beatings.
Police said Luna woke up at 6:45 a.m. Friday, gave Hyler a kiss and told her to have a great day.
Hyler reported the crime to police later Friday morning, and an officer took a report at police headquarters. Officers were sent to arrest Luna.
Informed that Luna was in custody, Hyler told police by phone that she’d been diagnosed with a concussion but did not have broken bones.
Police said the incident started on Thursday when Hyler went out with Luna. He became verbally abusive in the car, Hyler told investigators. She decided to drop him off at his home, but he would not cooperate.
Luna grabbed Hyler by the hair, took her car keys and dragged her into his house by her hair, police said