A Santa Clara man was arrested earlier this month on charges stemming from an incident in Manteca where he allegedly struck his ex-girlfriend multiple times in the face, caused thousands of dollars in damage to her apartment, and drew a handgun that he reportedly pointed at multiple people before fleeing the scene.

Jose Pros Beleche, 30, was arrested by Santa Clara Police at the request of the Manteca Police Department following the violent attack on Jan. 31. Police allege Beleche showed up at the victim’s apartment on the 1400 block of W. Center Street, refused to leave, and began an altercation that ended with a leg injury to the victim and what is believed to be extensive property damage.

Manteca Police responded to the scene after being contacted about a woman screaming for help and discovered the victim suffering from an injury to her ankle. Beleche was not at the scene by the time Manteca Police arrived.

According to the statement that the victim made to the responding officers, Beleche took the victim’s phone and broke it after he refused to leave and began breaking things inside of the home – prompting the victim to strike him on the back of the head with an item from inside of the residence. He responded by allegedly punching her in the face multiple times before pulling out a handgun and pointing it at her – which prompted her to grab a knife to defend herself. He then reportedly pushed her to the ground against the sliding glass door, injuring her ankle in the process, and she was able to open the door enough to scream for help and alert neighbors who contacted authorities.

Beleche fled when a relative showed up to assist the victim, and reportedly pointed the handgun at the relative as he was leaving the scene. When officers learned that he was likely headed back to Santa Clara County they contacted authorities near his home, and they were able to locate him and take him into custody without incident.

He is being charged with injuring a spouse or cohabitant, vandalism, exhibiting a firearm in a threatening manner, false imprisonment, and damaging a phone line to prevent somebody from calling 911. He was initially booked into the Santa Clara County Jail and was expected to be transferred to the San Joaquin County Jail to answer to the charges in Manteca court but made bail before that process happened.

The victim was transported to a local hospital with what was determined to be a “significant” fracture to her ankle, and a restraining order was issued barring Beleche from contacting the woman.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.