A 40-year-old Brainerd man faces criminal charges after allegedly assaulting and threatening a woman who claims he assaulted her many times in the past.
Thomas Michael Wurtzberger was charged Monday, Feb. 10, in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd with felony counts of stalking and making threats of violence, and gross misdemeanor counts of domestic assault, driving while intoxicated and third-degree property damage.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Wurtzberger, Brainerd police were dispatched Friday to a residence on Walnut Street for a domestic situation involving Wurtzberger, who had left on a snowmobile.
Officers arrived at the residence and observed the front exterior door was damaged. A woman at the residence appeared to have been crying and was visibly shaken up. The woman stated Wurtzberger, who is known to her, came to the residence intoxicated and a minor argument ensued. He then threatened her, threw a fan at her and punched a hole in the wall of a stairwell. The victim stated Wurtzberger threatened bodily harm against her. She told officers she learned to be quiet when Wurtzberger behaves this way, stating he was physically abusive in the past and based on his behavior she was afraid to say anything or to call 911.
When asked if Wurtzberger assaulted her in the past, she stated he had beaten her and made threats to her, including killing and dismembering her. She was afraid to report anything because of these threats and stated he assaulted her, possibly 20 times in the past 4 1/2 years.
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Wurtzberger was located and he had a strong odor of alcohol and bloodshot and watery eyes. He refused to take any field sobriety and breath tests.
The defendant, who has since been released from Crow Wing County Jail, will have his next court hearing March 5. Bond was set at $40,000 with conditions to include no contact with the victim and he cannot use or possess any alcohol, controlled substances or firearms or dangerous weapons. The court also is reviewing his domestic abuse no contact order.
