A 37-year-old man is facing criminal charges following an alleged domestic assault incident in which the victim denied allegations to police but told a family member what happened.
Andrew Jon Melby of Belle Plaine was charged Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd with felony first-degree property damage, gross misdemeanor domestic assault and misdemeanor domestic assault.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Melby, Crow Wing County deputies were dispatched at 10:54 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, to a report of a domestic assault, as well as another assault at a residence on Crow Wing County Highway 16 in Ideal Township. A caller reported a woman called in distress asking to be picked up because she was assaulted by Melby. The caller said he went to the residence and Melby confronted him as he tried to get the woman away from the situation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Melby allegedly punched the man in the face and attempted to stab him with an object. Melby then took the object and slashed the man’s vehicle tire, smashed the front passenger side car window while the woman was sitting in the car, reached in and opened the car door, and grabbed her out of the car and dragged her across the driveway by her hair, the complaint stated. The caller said he then got back into his vehicle, afraid for his life, and left the area to call police.
Deputies arrived but didn’t find anyone. They observed what appeared to be drag marks across the driveway and broken glass further up the driveway. There was also a purse on the front steps with blood on it. A deputy met with the caller, whose upper lip had a small laceration. There were blood droplets on both sides of his vehicle.
Melby was located the next morning at the victim’s family member’s Jenkins home. After Melby was arrested and taken into custody, he stated he’d argued with the victim, according to the complaint. Melby told police the person who came to pick her up confronted him and punches were exchanged.
He said the woman was screaming for help and asked Melby to get her out of the vehicle, and because the doors were locked, he used his elbow and smashed the window. He said he grabbed the woman under her arms and dragged her by her shoulders, which he said was necessary because she was drunk. Melby denied having an object in his hands and stated he walked away from the residence with the woman and returned a few hours later.
Another deputy spoke with the woman who denied Melby assaulted her or that he had a weapon. She stated she fell down because her boots were too big and she tripped.
The victim’s family member told authorities after they’d arrested Melby and left his home, the victim told him what took place the previous night. The victim said Melby beat her up and she thought her finger might be broken. She also had other visible injuries.
The victim also said Melby was holding a knife and slashed the car tire, the family member stated, and he wrapped his fist with a shirt and attempted several times to punch out the passenger window, eventually shattering it. He then grabbed her head and covered her mouth and nose to the point she had a hard time breathing, according to the victim.
Melby has a prior conviction for violating a harassment restraining order from 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT
Melby was released on his own recognizance and a domestic abuse no contact order was filed. His next scheduled court appearance is Nov. 4.
