PERHAM, MINN. – An Otter Tail County man who had been on the run for nearly two years was arrested over the weekend, accused of a violent assault on his girlfriend. Jose Garcia Pena, 29, of Perham, was taken into custody on Sunday and appeared in court on Monday, where he was charged with 3rd-degree assault.
The charges stem from an October 8, 2022, incident at a house party in Perham, where Pena allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. Court documents state that Pena dragged her down the stairs and repeatedly punched and kicked her until she managed to escape.
Pena admitted to officers that he had been in multiple fights at the party, claiming he tackled someone who had grabbed him, only realizing it was his girlfriend after the violent attack.