On March 27, 2026, just after midnight, deputies arrested a 24-year-old after he allegedly attacked a woman with a knife at a Gum Street address.
A report from the sheriff’s office says that officers responded to the home after Edwin Lopez-Mendez, 24, of Douglas, had reportedly chased a female victim with a knife then began beating her in the yard. She had a child with her and Mendez-Lopez allegedly took the child from her and went inside.
According to the report, deputies had responded to the home earlier in the night because Lopez-Mendez had been playing loud music, burning tires, and disturbing neighbors. After the first call, Lopez-Mendez went inside the home and started an argument with his girlfriend, who was asleep. She took the child and left the home to avoid the confrontation, the report says. Then Lopez-Mendez followed her outside with a knife and began hitting her. He then took the child and went inside, leaving her in the yard injured, according to the report. The report also says that when deputies arrived, the victim was in the with multiple visible injuries.
Witnesses stated that at least one individual attempted to stop the attack but Lopez-Mendez turned the knife on him, according to the report.
Lopez-Mendez was arrested and charged with aggravated battery – family violence, cruelty to children in the 3rd degree, simple assault, and obstruction of an officer. He was transported to the Coffee County Jail.
