On January 5, 2026, at approximately 12:06 A.M., officers of the Austin Police Department responded to 1908 4th Avenue SW in the City of Austin, County of Mower, for a report of a domestic assault involving knives. The reporting party (Witness 1, a nine-year-old male) stated that his mother, ANGIE MICHELLE RUFF, DOB/062178, the defendant herein, was trying to stab his father (Victim A, an adult male). Officer Heeren arrived and made contact with Witness 1. Witness 1 said he was home with his parents, the defendant and Victim A. Witness 1 said he called law enforcement because he was very scared.
Witness 1 said he saw the defendant walking with a kitchen knife, was saying bad words, and telling Victim A to kill himself. Witness 1 said the defendant was holding the kitchen knife behind her back and pulled it on Victim A. Witness 1 said Victim A then grabbed had a tactical knife and was able to get the kitchen knife from the defendant. Witness 1 said the defendant then turned off all the lights and went upstairs. Witness 1 said that during the incident he was pushed into the couch in the living room and he ran to his bedroom to call the police.
Witness 1 said that while the defendant and Victim A were arguing and Witness 1 yelled at Victim A to put the knife down. Witness 1 also said the defendant swung the knife at Victim A during the incident, but that Victim A did not swing his knife. Officer Hereen observed Witness 1 to be shaking, was crying, and appeared frightened. Witness 1 said again that he was very scared and was upset and stressed. Officer Huderle made contact with Victim A. Victim A told the officers that he and the defendant had been arguing that evening.
He stated that they were in the bedroom at one point and when he left the room, he looked up and saw the defendant with a kitchen knife and holding it in a threatening manner. Victim A said the defendant was threatening him with the knife and told him that she would kill him. Victim A said that he was afraid. Victim A said that when she grabbed the knife, he then grabbed a tactical knife to protect himself. Victim A said he was able to get the kitchen knife out of the defendant’s hand and went back into the bedroom.
Victim A stated that he was not sure why the defendant attacked him and stated that she had been drinking a lot. Victim A advised that this was not the first time an incident like this has happened between the two of them. Officers located the knives and seized them as evidence. Sgt. McCormack arrived and located the defendant upstairs. McCormack asked the defendant what happened that evening. The defendant stated that she and Victim A got into an argument about thirty minutes prior to law enforcement being called to the home.
She did not provide much detail but said that Victim A made her mad and called her mom “a b****.” She stated that she was “p-ed off” and the argument continued. The defendant denied that anything physical occurred and denied that anyone was armed with any weapons at any point. The defendant specifically denied having a knife and stated that she is “not dangerous.” The defendant said she was not afraid and that Victim A was not afraid, and that they were going to remain separated for the night. The defendant claimed that they do not argue often.
