LA PLATA, Md. – A Charles County man, Thomas Aaron Caparella-Monat, faces multiple felony charges following a violent assault in the parking lot of a local Outback Steakhouse after a domestic dispute escalated on the evening of October 20, 2024. Officers responded to the scene upon reports of a domestic assault and found a visibly injured woman bleeding heavily from a broken nose and a laceration on the bridge of her nose in the T/A parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. Witnesses directed the police towards the fleeing suspect.
According to the victim, Caparella-Monat, 32 years old, became enraged after she had contact with her child’s father earlier in the evening. They had spent part of the evening at Hunt’s Tavern in Pomfret, where Caparella-Monat became heavily intoxicated before demanding she drive him to an unspecified location on Route 6. At that location, he allegedly stole a roadside memorial cross and directed her to drive to the Outback Steakhouse.
Tensions escalated in the restaurant parking lot, with Caparella-Monat allegedly taking her phone, valued at $830, and refusing to return it. The situation further escalated when he choked the victim, shoved her into the front passenger side of the vehicle, damaged the vehicle’s windshield by throwing the phone at it, and punched her in the face before fleeing the scene.
Emergency services transported the victim to the hospital for treatment, where a lethality screening revealed she was at high risk. Authorities also discovered that Caparella-Monat is on probation for a prior assault conviction in Calvert County. Charges against him include first- and second-degree assault, robbery, theft, malicious destruction of property, and threats of violence. Despite efforts to locate him, the suspect remains at large, and the investigation continues. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact the La Plata Police Department.
This incident underscores the vital importance of recognizing and reporting domestic violence. If in danger or aware of someone in danger, it’s crucial to seek help from local law enforcement or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
In conclusion, the community must be vigilant in addressing and preventing instances of domestic violence to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals.