Woman Pushed From Truck

(GERING, Neb.) — A 20-year-old Gering man pleaded not guilty Monday to a Class I misdemeanor domestic assault charge following an early October incident in Scottsbluff that left a woman injured.

Raul I. Ayala appeared in custody before Scotts Bluff County Court Judge Kristen D. Mickey on Oct. 5, 2026. Ayala pled not guilty to one count of third-degree domestic assault causing bodily injury.

Judge Mickey appointed a public defender after finding Ayala indigent and set bond at $10,000, with 10% allowable.

The charge stems from a law enforcement response the afternoon of Oct. 2, 2026.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Scottsbluff Police Officer Jacob Weatherman, officers were dispatched around 4:17 p.m. to the 1500 block of Cowen Drive for a reported assault.

Upon arrival, officers located a woman sitting on the curb with bleeding from her nose and mouth. The woman reported that during an argument inside a 2006 black Lincoln Mark LT, Ayala punched her in the face, slapped her and pushed her out of the vehicle before driving away.

Gering police officers later located Ayala and the vehicle near the 1200 block of 13th Street.

According to court documents, Ayala told law enforcement he pushed the woman out of the pickup but denied striking her.

He was arrested at 6:33 p.m. and transported to the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center.

The court ordered reciprocal discovery between the state and defense, requiring pretrial motions, amended pleadings, witness lists and exhibit lists to be submitted before the scheduled pretrial conference.