A 30-year-old South St. Paul man faces criminal charges stemming from an argument at an apartment in Brainerd.
Donald Lee Highman Jr. was charged Thursday, Oct. 8, in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd with felony domestic assault and three misdemeanors of disorderly conduct, careless driving and not carrying proof of insurance while driving.
According to the probable cause court document filed against Highman, Brainerd police were called at 10 p.m. Oct. 6 to a report of a verbal domestic at a residence on Laurel Street. The complainant was reporting Highman, whom she knows, was verbally assaulting her and refusing to leave. As officers were en route, officers were advised Highman left in a silver station wagon. An officer saw the station wagon driving at a high rate of speed westbound in the alleyway between Laurel and Maple streets. Police followed the vehicle into the U.S. Bank parking lot and Highman was arrested.
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Officers spoke with the victim, who said she and Highman had gotten into an argument but she believed it had been resolved. He later began throwing things around in the apartment and began calling her derogatory names, yelling at her and causing her to be afraid, the complaint stated. Highman refused to leave the apartment, the victim said, so she pushed him out and locked the door. Highman began to kick the door, trying to force it open, which is when she called law enforcement. The woman stated she was afraid of Highman and was concerned as he had been physical in the past.
Highman admitted to officers of getting into an argument with the woman, throwing stuff around the apartment and hitting the apartment door.
According to court documents, Highman has four domestic violence-related convictions.
Highman was released from jail and must follow conditions of his release to include no contact with the victim, not entering any bars or liquor stores, following a domestic abuse no contact order and making all court appearances. His next court appearance is set Oct. 21.
