Suspect hits pregnant girlfriend multiple times, he 'just felt like hitting her'

AUSTIN, Texas - A 22-year-old man has been arrested after he called 911 on himself for hitting his pregnant girlfriend. Joshua Randy Garcia, 22, reportedly told 911 dispatch that he 'just felt like hitting her.'

Garcia called 911 on himself around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, according to the Austin Police Department. Officers were then dispatched to a home in the 1100 block of Austin Highlands Boulevard in South Austin. 

Garcia told police when they arrived on the scene that he got into a verbal argument with his girlfriend about him seeing other women in their driveway. Garcia has been with his girlfriend for three and a half years. The two share one biological child together and the girlfriend is currently one and a half months pregnant with their second child, according to the affidavit.

The verbal argument escalated into a physical altercation when his girlfriend pushed him in the shoulder, according to Garcia.

After his girlfriend pushed him, Garcia reportedly began punching her in the face. Garcia told police that he believes he punched her at least 15 times in the face with a closed fist before their child and the victim's mother arrived at the home. 

Police officers spoke with the victim's mother, who said she also lives in the home on Austin Highlands Boulevard. The victim's mother told police that she has a Ring doorbell camera on the front of her house and that she can watch a live feed from the camera on her cellphone. 

When Garcia and the victim arrived at the home, her Ring app notified her and she opened the live feed. The victim's mother told police she watched Garcia punch the victim repeatedly in the driveway, and that her daughter fell to the ground during the altercation. 

The victim's mother told police that she rushed home but did not see any more physical violence when she arrived. 

The victim was also interviewed by police officers. 

The victim was unsure how many times she was hit in the face but estimated it was about ten times. Police officers observed the victim's right cheek to be severely swollen, with a golf ball-sized lump and redness. The victim's right eye was swollen shut as well, according to the affidavit.

The victim also suffered injuries to her wrists and hands while attempting to defend herself. 

Joshua Randy Garcia was arrested and charged with assault with injury, a third-degree felony.