Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Moises Ramiro Lopez-Zenteno, 36, was arrested yesterday for allegedly hitting his girlfriend and threatening her with a knife.

At about 11:50 p.m. on September 27, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Bella Vista Village (110 NW 39th Avenue), where the victim said she and Lopez-Zenteno had argued as she came home from visiting a neighbor, and he pulled her into her home by her shirt.

Inside the home, they continued to argue, and the victim said Lopez-Zenteno broke a mirror, tried to force her to drink from a full beer bottle, and slapped her.

The victim said Lopez-Zenteno went into the kitchen, and she ran outside to go to the neighbor’s house, but Lopez-Zenteno followed her, holding a raised knife. The neighbor called 911, causing Lopez-Zenteno to go back inside.

A witness reportedly told the officer that he saw Lopez-Zenteno pull the victim into her home, and then a little while later, they both ran out of the home, and Lopez-Zenteno had a knife in his raised hand.

The deputy reported that the victim’s cheek was visibly red.

Post Miranda, Lopez-Zenteno reportedly said he had never put his hands on the victim, but he later said she attacked him and he pushed her face to defend himself. He reportedly said he used the knife to open a beer bottle but never intended to scare the victim with the knife.

Lopez-Zenteno, who was identified with his Mexican ID, has been charged with domestic aggravated assault and domestic battery. He has one misdemeanor conviction for driving without a valid license in 2024. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $30,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.