Francis Scarcella
8 hrs ago

SUNBURY — An illegal immigrant from Honduras was captured in the city Sunday after police responded to a domestic disturbance on Church Street, police said.

Dennis Cruz-Vasquez, 21, was arrested after Sunbury police responded to a call of male fighting with a woman. He was arrested following the alleged altercation and is housed in Montour County Prison. City police also contacted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about Cruz-Vasquez's status.

According to police, Cruz-Vasquez got upset after his girlfriend spoke to and hugged her ex-husband, police said. When officers arrived after the alleged altercation, they attempted to speak with the alleged victim but she did not speak English, police said.

Through her son, police were able to learn the woman and Cruz-Vasquez got in the argument which escalated to Vasquez slapping the woman the face twice, according to court documents. Officers noticed the woman had swelling on the right side of her face and several scratches on parts of her arm and face, police said.

Police located Cruz-Vasquez and a friend of standing in a parking lot near the home, according to court documents. Police attempted to speak with Vasquez but were informed he did not speak English well, police said. The man standing with Vasquez translated for officers and said that Vasquez accused the woman of starting the fight, according to court documents.

Police returned to the home and spoke to the alleged victim a second time and she explained she began to fight back when Vasquez struck her, police said. The woman told officers she was going to call police but Vasquez had smashed her phone, according to court documents.

Vasquez was taken into custody. Through a translator told officers he did not have a green card or visa and was in the country illegally from Honduras, according to court documents.

Vasquez was charged with a misdemeanor simple assault and a summary charge of harassment. Vasquez appeared before Shamokin District Judge John Gembic and was sent to Montour County Prison on $20,000 cash bail.

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