BEATRICE – Beatrice Police summoned late Saturday night to a physical altercation at a motel have arrested a 25-year-old Beatrice man for felony domestic assault.

Police responding to the motel’s lobby at about 11:10 p.m. found that the suspect in an altercation had left the area.  A woman who was the victim had injuries to her face and mouth.  Police were able to identify her attacker from motel video surveillance. 

The woman injured said she and the suspect had gotten into an argument and it escalated into violence.  She told police she had decided to remove herself from a home and stay at the motel.   The suspect came to the motel to confront the victim.  She was then struck in the face and pushed across the lobby into a piece of furniture.

Police found the suspect at a residence where officers had escorted the victim to gather her property. 

Police arrested Ryan Peden on suspicion of third-degree felony assault.  He was jailed at the Gage County Detention Center.  Police say he has one prior conviction for domestic assault, from January of 2018.