Fresno Man Arrested After Victim Beaten, Dragged, Held Captive

Reno Diego Gatti, 31, was arrested Wednesday after Fresno police allege he used a lug wrench to beat his dating partner unconscious, then dragged them into a bedroom and seized their phone when they tried to call for help.

Hospital staff alerted law enforcement shortly after 3:30 p.m. after the victim arrived seeking treatment. Officers responded to the Fresno hospital, where the victim described the attack in detail and later positively identified Gatti to responding officers, leading directly to his arrest.

According to the Fresno Police Department, Gatti allegedly struck the victim on the right side of the face with the lug wrench, causing nausea and a loss of consciousness. After the victim came to, police say Gatti struck them on the left leg and dragged them into a bedroom. Once inside, the victim attempted to call a relative, but Gatti allegedly took the phone and blocked the call entirely.

The victim escaped through a single opening: Gatti stepped into the restroom. The victim slipped out, reached the hospital, and staff who recognized the injuries contacted police.

Booking records list six felony charges against Gatti: kidnapping, robbery, false imprisonment with violence, assault with a deadly weapon not involving a firearm, corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant with prior incidents, and criminal threats. He also faces a misdemeanor count for damaging a wireless communication device. Bail was set at $170,000. Authorities did not release additional details about the victim's condition or identity.

The corporal injury charge carries a notation of prior incidents, a detail in the booking record indicating this was not the first time law enforcement had documented violence in this relationship. The alleged sequence in this case mirrors a pattern that safety advocates consistently flag: physical assault, followed by isolation from family contact, followed by physical restraint. Each of those steps is now reflected in a separate charge.

Anyone who suspects a neighbor or family member is being held against their will or harmed by a partner should call 911. Under California law, hospital staff are required to report injuries they believe resulted from a crime, which is how this case surfaced. Fresno residents can reach the Marjaree Mason Center's 24-Hour Crisis Helpline at (559) 233-HELP for confidential support, safety planning, and shelter referrals. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-SAFE.