An undocumented pizza deliveryman, whose detention at a Brooklyn Army base triggered outrage across the city, has been arrested on Long Island in a domestic violence case.
A criminal complaint alleges that Pablo Villavicencio pushed his wife against a wall, slapped her, and grabbed her phone to keep her from calling police last Thursday at the couple's Hempstead, Long Island home.
He was arraigned Saturday on a criminal mischief misdemeanor charge and remained jailed Monday afternoon. Bail was set at $500. He is due back in court Tuesday.
His attorney released a statement, saying, in part, "We are hopeful that this matter will be resolved and that Pablo will secure valid status with the continued assistance of our counsel."
Villavicencio was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 1 while making a delivery to the Fort Hamilton Army Base in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He was wanted for ignoring an old deportation order after entering the country illegally from Ecuador. He was seeking to establish legal residency and overcome a 2010 order to leave the country. His wife and two young daughters are U.S. citizens.
A judge ordered him released in late July, but Villavicencio could still face deportation.