A 46-year-old Brainerd man faces domestic assault charges following an incident on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
Troy Arthur Petersen was charged Monday, Dec. 28, in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd with felony domestic assault by strangulation and gross misdemeanor domestic assault.
Brainerd police were asked to call the victim at 7:35 p.m. on Christmas Day regarding a domestic disturbance at a residence in Brainerd that occurred at 5:45 p.m.
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According to the criminal complaint filed against Petersen, the victim reported the assault happened while she waited in line to get her food for Christmas dinner. The woman stated the defendant, who is known to the victim, became upset about a hat she was wearing and began shouting and yelling profanities at her. The woman told police he did not like one of the founders of the organization embroidered on the hat.
The woman stated Petersen was very close to her and she shouted at him to get back. He then allegedly grabbed her by the throat and pushed her up against one of the cabinets in the kitchen, the complaint stated. She said he squeezed very tightly, and although she did not pass out, the pressure prohibited her from talking or shouting for help.
The victim stated she feared the defendant and did not know what he would do to her. The woman said there were several previous occasions during which she was fearful of Petersen and what he might do to her or her family.
According to court documents, Petersen was involved in two incidents of domestic violence in 2017. He was convicted of fourth-degree assault in one case and given a stay of adjudication for a second case in which he assaulted a correctional officer. A stay of adjudication means there is no conviction for the offense and if the defendant meets all the court terms on their probation, the case will be dismissed.
Petersen was released from Crow Wing County Jail and ordered to have no contact with the victims, remain law abiding, appear for all his court hearings and follow a domestic abuse-no contact order. His next court appearance is Feb. 10.
