The Civil Guard acted swiftly to prevent a planned escalation into violence that could have become a new sexist crime. The incident occurred in Tavernes de la Valldigna, Valencia, where authorities arrested a man accused of harassment and threats. He, aged 24, had previously extorted a shotgun from his father and was on his way to confront his ex-wife, with concerns that she and their two-year-old daughter might be harmed.
The suspect, a resident of Tavernes, was ordered into prison yesterday afternoon by a judge overseeing Violence Against Women cases, following a police review and a request from the Prosecutor’s Office, according to reliable legal sources.
The events began at 09:30 on Monday as the victim took her two-year-old daughter to kindergarten and unexpectedly encountered her former partner, despite a restraining order intended to keep them apart. The assailant reportedly entered taverns and approached the woman and child, violating the protective order.
The man is also accused of manipulating his location data with a monitoring bracelet to evade the protection order and endanger the protected party.
Earlier, the same Swedish judge had imposed monitoring after a prior conviction for sexist violence against the same young woman. On that occasion, the man approached the child when she had just dropped off her father at kindergarten, a detail the child did not witness at the time.
“I’ll kill the girl if you don’t come with me now”
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the abuser called the victim, requesting her return, which she refused. The bracelet broke and the man brandished a firearm, threatening to kill both the woman and the child: “If you don’t come with me now, I’ll kill the girl.”
The frightened woman fled and immediately alerted the Civil Guard assigned to her protection, while the assailant left the scene.
Witnesses report that the Tavernes de la Valldigna police swiftly filed a review of the incident and quickly located and arrested the man for violating the restraining order and for issuing serious threats, with special attention to neutralizing the imminent risk.
Initial police actions included tracing the suspect to his parents’ home, as investigators believed the gun might be there. Arriving at the residence in Tavernes, officers found him seated in a car with the engine running, ready to use the shotgun against his ex-partner and the two-year-old girl. The officers intervened, preventing the potential confrontation and securing the suspect in custody.
Threats to officers
Back at the suspect’s home, he barricaded himself on a balcony and fired threats toward officers, indicating he would shoot them or himself if pursued. The situation required reinforcements and a precautionary lockdown of nearby farms, with residents gathering behind police lines and witnessing the tense standoff.
Other officers on duty, along with the commander, engaged in a prolonged negotiation that lasted about ninety minutes, creating moments of high tension. In the end, the suspect agreed to retreat and cooperate, handing over the gun and ammunition and surrendering peacefully.
The detainee was promptly taken to the courthouse before being moved to Tavernes de la Valldigna health center for medical clearance and then to the police station. He faces charges including serious threats and attempted murder, while his immediate detention following the hearing was ordered by a Violence Against Women judge. He was transferred to prison to await further proceedings.
In this jurisdiction, the same Swedish judge oversees cases involving gender-based violence, and she continues to lead the prosecution against the individual identified as José Antonio, aged 47, who was previously connected to violent acts and whose case has involved a complex set of family and protection-related matters. This ongoing coverage reflects the broader commitment to protecting victims and enforcing protective orders in the region.