Puerto Rican boxer Edgar Berlanga, 29, was arrested on Tuesday, October 26, in Lakeland, Florida, on charges of domestic violence against a woman, according to the sworn statement Telemundo 31 obtained. Lakeland Police documents show he faces one count of domestic violence and one count of aggravated domestic violence for events that occurred on October 18.
According to the affidavit, Berlanga was in his vehicle with the alleged victim when they began to argue. He started hitting her with an open hand, then pulled out a pistol and struck her in the forehead with the magazine. She tried to get out of the vehicle, but he grabbed her left arm and tried to drag her back in; she escaped and ran to a 7-Eleven at 7245 Bridgewater Center Drive.
Bystanders who saw her leave the car called police, though the woman declined to give a statement at the time. When she later decided to speak, the officer taking her statement observed swelling and bruises on her forehead, a torn left sleeve and a bruise on the inside of her left arm. Per the victim’s statement, Berlanga’s gun was real, and about 20 minutes before the incident both had visited a shooting range.