Police: Man who held girlfriend hostage breaks into her home

Left: James D. Garcia, in a mugshot issued by the New York State Police.

James D. Garcia, a 22-year-old Monroe man who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly holding his girlfriend hostage with a knife while driving, has been arrested again on charges of breaking into her home, according to the New York State Police. 

At 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, Garcia allegedly broke a living room window at the his ex-girlfrend's home in the Ulster County town of Woodstock, said Steven Nevel, a spokesman for the New York State Police.

Garcia then entered his ex-girlfriend's home and waited there, according to a State Police press release

Earlier this month, Garcia was arrested after a violent drive with the same woman ended in a car crash on Route 28 in the Delaware County town of Bovina.

On Oct. 16, police say that Garcia was driving with the woman, his then-girlfriend, on Route 28 in Delaware County.

He allegedly threatened her with a knife and struck her cell phone out of her hand when she tried to call 911, according to Delaware County Undersheriff Craig DuMond. The woman escaped by taking the wheel of the car and forcing it to crash on the side of the road, DuMond said. 

After the incident on Oct. 16, Garcia's ex-girlfriend obtained an order of protection against Garcia, police say. The burglary at her home in Woodstock violates the protection order. The State Police press release also states that Garcia has made harassing phone calls to the woman, which is also a violation of the protective order. 

Garcia was charged with felony burglary for the break-in, and was arraigned in the Town of Woodstock Court on Oct. 25, according to the press release. After he posted his $100,000 bail, he was released. 

Previous coverage: 

Police: Knife-wielding driver held passenger hostage before crashing on Route 28