By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A homeless man learned he couldn’t assert his will on his girlfriend without suffering the consequences.
Robert Hinton, 48, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Jail on Oct. 17 on charges of assault, disorderly conduct, and three misdemeanor warrants out of Safford Magistrate Court.
This appears to be the modus operandi for Hinton, who was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend in April and then again one day after being released from jail. This marks the third time in roughly six months Hinton has been jailed for assaulting the same woman.
An officer was dispatched to the 1700 block of U.S. Highway 70 at about 9:35 p.m. regarding a man chasing a woman.
According to a Safford Police report, a witness saw Hinton harass a woman known to be his girlfriend by grabbing her and trying to lift up her shirt. The responding party said the woman was resisting Hinton and told him to leave her alone.
Upon arrival, the officer located the couple and recognized them from past police contacts. The officer witnessed the woman try to walk away from Hinton as he pushed her and yelled at her, according to the report.
After separating the couple, Hinton allegedly told the officer that he had been the victim of abuse by the woman and that she had struck him several times and that he didn’t do anything.
The woman said she was trying to get away from Hinton when he threw her food on the ground and followed her. She later recanted her version of events and declined to press charges.
Based on the witness’ account and what he observed as well, the officer then placed Hinton under arrest for assault, disorderly conduct and booked him into the jail, along with his three warrants.
