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A Carter County man is facing multiple charges following a pair of domestic violence incidents. David Joe Velarde, 51, of the Biltmore community, was arrested on Wednesday on outstanding warrants charging him with aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault as domestic violence. He is currently being held at the Carter County Detention Center without bond.

The charges against Velarde stem from two separate domestic violence incidents in which he is accused of assaulting a woman and holding her against her will.

The first incident occurred on February 8 when deputies responded to the 1100 block of Highway 91 in the Stoney Creek community on a report of a physical domestic violence incident between a male and female in the roadway. When officers arrived, they located the female, but the male subject had fled the scene.

The woman told officers she had been visiting a friend at a nearby residence with her boyfriend when she and her boyfriend began to argue. She stated she left the residence and began walking along Highway 91 when her boyfriend, whom she identified as Velarde, followed her and began physically assaulting her. The woman stated that during the assault, Velarde pulled a knife from his pocket and lunged at her, but she was able to get away from him. Officers observed that the female had abrasions around her neck as well as a laceration in the area of her hip.

Officers attempted to locate Velarde but were unsuccessful. A warrant was obtained charging Velarde with aggravated assault as domestic violence in connection with the incident.

The second incident occurred on March 11 when deputies responded to a residence on Jackson Avenue on a report of a male subject with a knife attacking a woman. When officers arrived on the scene, the woman was located, but the male had fled. The woman was identified as the same victim from the incident on February 8. She informed officers that Velarde had assaulted her with his fist and had cut her leg with his knife.

The woman told officers that Velarde had held her against her will inside a shed and would not let her leave. She said he had assaulted her over the two days, tied her to a chair, beat her with pieces of wood, and made threats to kill her. Officers observed that the woman had visible bruises on her arms, shoulders, chest, knees, and back, as well as a laceration on her inner thigh. The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries by emergency medical personnel. Officers searched the area for Velarde but were not able to locate him at that time. Officers then obtained an additional warrant charging Velarde with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault as domestic violence.

A BOLO was issued for Velarde, and on March 12, he was located on West H Street by officers of the Elizabethton Police Department and taken into custody.