Councilman Hiram Monserrate represents the district 21 in Queens, New York. He was elected to the 13th district of the New York State Senate. In December 2008, Monserrate was arrested for hitting his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, with a beer bottle.Albany Times Union: Roundup of Monserrate Details so Far (December 19, 2008) His girlfriend required several stitches on her face.NY Daily News: Queens City Councilman Hiram Monserrate Arrested on Domestic... (December 19, 2008) Monserrate was indicted and charged with assault on March 23, 2009. If convicted he could face up to seven years in prison.NY Daily News: State Senator Hiram Monserrate... (March 23, 2009)

Monserrate pleaded not guilty. On September 22, 2009, a surveillance video of the incident was played in court. The taped showed Monserrate trying to pull Giraldo away from a neighbor's door as she sought help.http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=7027100

At approximately 4:30 a.m. on December 19, 2008, Monserrate's girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, showed up at the Long Island Jewish Hospital with several lacerations to her face. She had to have between 20 and 40 stitches.Albany Times Union: Roundup of Monserrate Details so Far (December 19, 2008) Police questioned Monserrate and charged him with assault. A police source told the New York Daily News that the Giraldo was hit in the head with a beer bottle.NY Daily News: Queens City Councilman Hiram Monserrate Arrested on Domestic... (December 19, 2008)