Raymond Bautista, 36, of Allentown. (Credit: Hatfield Police)
Raymond Anthony Bautista, 36, the man accused of beating the mother of his unborn child outside Hatfield Village Apartments in Hatfield Township last Thursday, is behind bars on $500,000 cash bail, Hatfield Police Chief William Tierney announced Wednesday morning.
Bautista, of West Cedar Street in Allentown, was taken into custody Wednesday morning and is sitting at Montgomery County jail in Lower Providence Township.
"Thank you for all of your support in getting this done," Tierney wrote on Facebook Wednesday.
On Tuesday morning, prosecutors filed an emergency motion for bail review in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, assigned to Judge William R. Carpenter. Then, the hearing was set for Wednesday morning, where Bautista was present without an attorney.
Tierney said authorities asked Ashe for $1 million cash bail, due to "the viciousness of this attack against a completely unsuspecting person" warranting such an arrest.
"The District Judge modified that bail request to what you all now know is $75,000 unsecured. Believe me when I tell you that we are just as shocked as you are," Tierney wrote on Tuesday. "We have requested a bail review in this case as we feel strongly that more should be done to ensure the victim in this case has some peace."
The defendant was initially arrested, arraigned, and released on unsecured bond Monday night, on charges of aggravated assault of an unborn child and aggravated assault -- both felonies -- and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and reckless endangerment of another person, according to court records.
Hatfield Police Chief William Tierney said Monday night that Bautista was apprehended that afternoon.
"Hatfield detectives conducted a fast-paced and thorough investigation, along with gathering timely information and videos from our residents and local business owners," Tierney said in a Facebook post.
Tierney thanked everyone who assisted police in the investigation. Detectives continue to gather more facts and evidence.
Police responded to the 2000 block of Maple Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Thursday for a 911 call about a woman assaulted while exiting their apartment, police said.
The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival. He was wearing gloves, all black, and a ski mask, police said.
The attack was captured on security video at the apartment complex. The video shows the suspect hit the victim with a flying knee to the back, before he straddles her on the pavement and begins punching her repeatedly. The victim screams for help, but no one arrives.
Police said the victim was taken to Grand View Hospital by VMSC Emergency Medical Services for evaluation of injuries.
Bautista has no prior criminal history in Pennsylvania. Attorney information was unavailable Monday night.
A preliminary hearing is set for May 7 before Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine. Bautista was arraigned by Ashe, as she was the Magisterial District Judge on call Monday night.
Call police at 215-855-0903 with any information on the case.
Editor's note: The article erroneously stated that Hatfield detectives requested a bail review from Norristown Magisterial District Judge Denise Ashe, who set bail at $75,000 unsecured Monday night as the on-call county judge. The article has been updated with accurate information.
