Domestic violence cases are making headlines across the nation, and Brainerd has not been immune to the issue.
The Brainerd Police Department investigated 164 incidents relating to domestic assault of some kind this year, averaging to about 18 per month.
In the last 30 days Brainerd police have responded to 28 such cases, four of which initially led to criminal charges of domestic assault involving strangulation, a felony. Since January, police have investigated eight cases involving domestic assault involving strangulation.
"As far as statistical data, this past month there has been an increase in domestic incidents and domestic incidents with strangulation charges," Brainerd Police Deputy Chief Mike Bestul said. "I don't have a definitive answer to (why the increase this month). Could it be awareness or unfortunately just a busier month? We're not sure."
Bestul said even though a person is arrested for domestic assault by strangulation, it is the county's attorney's office job to review the case and they may amend the initial charge to a lesser charge.
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"I don't have these numbers, but I do know that not all individuals initially charged with domestic by strangulation actually have a complaint drafted for them and may be reviewed/amended to lesser charges," Bestul said.
Three of the four men arrested by Brainerd police for felony domestic assault by strangulation were Nathan B. Holden, Damian Joseph Lockwood and Allen Lee Weyaus. The fourth name was unavailable Friday. All the cases went through Crow WIng District Court this month.
A closer look at the cases:
Holden, 30, Brainerd, was charged Sept. 2 with domestic assault by strangulation and misdemeanor domestic assault. His next court appearance is Tuesday.
According to the criminal complaint filed, on Sept. 1, Brainerd officers were dispatched to a residence on the 1700 block of Maple Street to a physical domestic assault. The two parties were separated and the male was sitting on the porch at the residence.
Officers went inside the residence and the victim appeared to be very upset and was crying. The victim told officers that she and Holden had a verbal argument about him cheating on her. She said she became upset about the argument and started packing his clothing. Holden then became upset about this and grabbed her by the back of the neck and applied pressure. She said that her breathing was restricted while his hands were around her neck, the court document said.
The victim was still complaining of breathing difficulties at the time of the conversation with police. Officers observed red marks around her neck and upper chest area.
She told officers that her and Holden were living together for almost a year and she currently was pregnant with his baby.
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Another woman, who was inside the residence with the victim, said she was putting her child to bed when she heard a bunch of yelling come from the other room. The woman observed the victim packing and Holden grabbing her throat. She said the victim then grabbed Holden by the throat. The woman told them both to stop or she would call police. The woman said the victim and Holden then let go of each other but continued the verbal argument.
Lockwood, 41, Baxter, was charged Sept. 2 with domestic assault by strangulation and misdemeanor domestic assault. His next court appearance is Sept. 29.
According to the criminal complaint, at 8:19 a.m. Aug. 29, Brainerd police were dispatched to a domestic assault at an apartment on the 400 block of South Ninth Street, Brainerd.
Officers spoke with Lockwood's 16-year-old son and a witness at the residence. Lockwood's son told officers that his mother had been arrested and was in jail the night before and he called his father to let him know that he and his 9-year-old sister were home alone. The son indicated that Lockwood came to the residence, walked into the apartment and asked him where his mother was. The woman told him she was in jail. Lockwood asked his son why his sister was calling, saying it was a joke. The son showed Lockwood the Crow Wing County in-custody report which indicated that his mother was in jail.
The son called Lockwood a name and Lockwood grabbed him by his shoulder and arm and said, "Don't call me names," the document said. The son attempted to push Lockwood away from him at which point Lockwood tripped over some bags and fell to the floor pulling his son on top of him. While on the floor, Lockwood grabbed his son by the neck, flipped him around on his back and held him by the throat sitting on top of him, the document said. As Lockwood was holding his son by the neck he began squeezing hard making it difficult for his son to breath. The son told officers that Lockwood held him down in that fashion for at least 30 seconds, until his friend came into the room and pulled him off of him.
The friend told officers that he awakened that morning to Lockwood's son's little sister screaming. The friend indicated that he got up and went over into the room and observed Lockwood on his son by holding him by the throat. The friend told officers that as soon as Lockwood realized "There was more of us there that were witnesses he let go."
Lockwood told officers that he had been in a physical altercation with his son, that they were pushing each other and fell to the ground. Lockwood said he had to restrain his son by holding him on the ground and that he did so by grabbing him around the shoulders near the base of his neck. Lockwood denied choking or strangling his son, but stated he did restrain him by grasping a hold of him shoulders near the base of his neck.
Officers observed significant bruising to the left side and throat area of the son's neck. His lip also was swollen and bleeding.
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Weyaus, 44, Onamia, was arrested for domestic assault by strangulation and disorderly conduct, but was charged Sept. 5 in court for misdemeanor domestic assault, with the intention to inflict bodily harm and disorderly conduct.
Accordingly to the probable cause statement, Weyaus was very intoxicated and began to argue with the victim, who poured out his liquor at a residence in Brainerd. He grabbed her by the arms and pushed her into the counter a few times. She was hit several times in the face, but was unsure if it was open or closed fist, the court document said. The argument got into the bedroom and he pinned her down and placed his hands on her throat. He squeezed her throat hard enough to restrict her breathing, the document said..
When Weyaus left, she locked the door, contacted a neighbor for help. She told neighbor she was scared, frightened and feared for her safety.
Weyaus appeared for a hearing in court Friday and a pre-trial is set for Nov. 25.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl .
