Man Faces Assault Charge After Incident with Girlfriend

A 33-year-old Novato man surrendered to after leaving the psychiatric unit of Marin General Hospital following allegations that he assaulted and threatened his girlfriend, police said.

Joseph Peralta, who listed his occupation as a carpenter, was taken into custody Monday in Greenbrae after calling Novato police to say he was being released from the hospital and was ready to be booked at Marin County Jail, Sgt. Eric Riddell said.

Peralta's girlfriend, the mother of a child they have in common, told police she had been assaulted on April 24 in Novato. Peralta was gone upon the arrival of police officers, then later called his girlfriend and threatened to harm her and himself if she called police again, according to the police report.

Peralta faces a felony charge of making criminal threats and a misdemeanor of battery on a cohabitant or spouse, according to the jail booking log.