Crime Briefs: Chips, salsa and assault

This week, the Gilroy Police Department responded to crime in all shapes and sizes. Here is a sampling of noteworthy events:

Ballistic man at the hospital

Transient Robert Hulpsman, 56, was arrested for disturbing the peace after allegedly wandering St. Louise Regional Medical Center at 1:14 p.m. April 11, causing a ruckus and refusing treatment even after he requested GPD to send an ambulance for him. Police said he was in under the influence of methamphetamine and in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was cited and released when sober, according to Police Sgt. Pedro Espinoza.  

Pregnant woman on drugs

Ceja Marisela, a 27-year-old pregnant Gilroy woman was allegedly under the influence of stimulants and alcohol when she was arrested at 8 p.m. April 12 on the 400 block of Fairview Drive. She was cited and released, and the case was referred to Child Protective Services for possible child endangerment charges.   

Chips, salsa and assault

Date night turned into a violent assault when a couple went out for dinner at Chevy’s Fresh Mex on Murray Avenue at 8 p.m. April 13. The man and woman had been drinking when they got into a verbal argument at the dinner table. They took the fight to their car, where the male suspect allegedly grabbed the woman’s neck and strangled her and confiscated her phone when she tried to call police. He fled the scene and is still on the loose, according to Espinoza.  

Man arrested for strangling woman 

Another strangler assaulted someone in Gilroy this week, only this one got caught. Luis Castaneda, 21, was arrested for assault after he allegedly strangled his girlfriend, holding a knife to her neck and threatening to kill her in their home on Church Street and Southgate Court at 1:14 a.m. April 14. He was taken to Santa Clara County Jail.