Custody exchange leads to fight
Police called to brawl Saturday night
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:33 AM PDT
Ontario — The Ontario Police Department made five arrests in the wake of a brawl in the 800 block of North Oregon Street Saturday night.
Feliz Ortega, 46, Ontario, Silverio Perez, 18, Ontario, Roberto Firo Depine, 23, Payette, Maria Perez, 23, Ontario, and Emelia Mendoza-Herrea, 26, Ontario, were all arrested at about 8 p.m. for disorderly conduct after the altercation.
Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee said the fight started when Depine approached the residence to transfer custody of his children.
“The family got involved,” Kee said. “Roberto’s shirt was torn. There were scrapes on his face.”
Though transferring children from one parent to another can be a difficult time when emotions run high, Kee said there are safer options.
“That’s why we have a place in Ontario,” Kee said. “DHS (Department of Human Services), a place that does that, is safer. We encourage people to use that.”
The program allows one parent to drop off the child at one of the DHS offices, while the second parent picks up the child at a later time.
OPD also reported a burglary in an apartment complex in the 600 block of Southwest 19th Street between 3:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday.
The victim reported 400 DVDs, a video game console, a signed baseball helmet and a bobblehead doll missing.
OPD currently has no suspects in the case.
