LAWRENCE — A city man beat and brutally raped a woman who had a restraining order against him and committed the attack while her three children were in the home, police said.
Angel Ruiz, 44, was arrested Sunday around 1 a.m. on Salem Street and charged with aggravated rape, violation of a restraining order, larceny under $250, intimidation of a witness, and assault and battery.
The victim, who had a relationship with Ruiz, was taken by helicopter to a Boston hospital for treatment and released yesterday, police said.
According to the police report, neighbors heard the woman screaming, "Help me." Ruiz tried to rip an air conditioner out of a window so he could close it and stifle her screams, police said.
The victim was beaten first and then raped by Ruiz, police said. Neighbors heard the victim screaming, "I'm not gonna let you do this to me anymore."
Officers were met at the door by the victim's teenage son who told them that Ruiz cut his mother and ran out of the house. Police said on his way out, Ruiz grabbed the woman's house keys and identification.
Neighbors told police they saw Ruiz run through the front door, cross the street and run between two houses toward Bailey Street. He was arrested at 133 Salem St.
"This was a violent attack. I'm glad that we were able to arrest him later on. I'm glad he's behind bars," police Chief John Romero said.
Ruiz hid behind a partially closed door during his arraignment at Lawrence District Court yesterday. He was ordered held until a dangerousness hearing Wednesday, when a judge will decide whether it is a risk to release Ruiz into the community while he awaits trial.
