"Before I go to prison, I'm going to kill you."
These are the words a Brainerd woman told police her ex-boyfriend said to her Friday night before he allegedly strangled her.
Matthew Alan Norman, 45, appeared in Crow Wing County District Court Monday and was charged with felony terroristic threats, felony domestic assault by strangulation and gross misdemeanor domestic assault.
Police were called to a residence on the 1000 block of Fifth Avenue Northeast shortly before 8:45 p.m. Friday on a report of a physical domestic. Upon officer arrival, the woman involved told police the argument between her and Norman began in the front yard of the residence over a dog-related issue. The woman said she and her ex-boyfriend had dated on and off for years and he had been staying at her residence for about a week.
She said Norman struck her in the yard, knocking her to the ground. The woman said she then went into the home to retrieve her car keys in an attempt to leave. Norman allegedly followed her in and wrapped two hands around her neck, telling her he would kill her. She was able to get away from him, the woman told police, and went further into the home before Norman again grabbed her by the neck.
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The second time, the woman said she began to lose consciousness and had difficulty breathing and Norman again told her he intended to kill her. Able to free herself, the woman ran from the home and knocked on the door of a neighbor, but no one answered. She was able to make contact at another home where she dialed 911.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the Crow Wing County Attorney's Office, officers observed redness on both sides of the woman's neck and hand prints were visible, consistent with someone grabbing her neck with both hands. The woman was visibly shaken by the ordeal, the report stated.
Norman has an extensive criminal history, according to Minnesota court records, including numerous traffic-related convictions including driving while intoxicated. Among those convictions is a 2010 domestic assault conviction in Chisago County.
CHELSEY PERKINS may be reached at 218-855-5874 or chelsey.perkins@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchChelsey .
