On March 13, 2026, police were dispatched to the Hennepin County Medical Center based on a report of assaults against two different victims. Officers arrived and made contact with two adult females, identified herein as Victim 1 and Victim 2. Victim 1 reported that they were both assaulted by her boyfriend, MICHAEL DEON HUGHES [DOB REDACTED]. In a statement to police, Victim 1 reported that HUGHES was staying with her the night of March 12, 2026, at her apartment in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When they woke up the next morning, he wanted to have sex with her, but she was angry with him and did not want to have sex. This started an argument. HUGHES then put his hand on her neck and applied pressure, which impeded her breathing. HUGHES stopped when Victim 1’s sister (Victim 2) knocked on the door. Victim 2 was asking if Victim 1 was okay, then started yelling at HUGHES through the door. HUGHES got upset and left the bedroom, and she followed him to the living room where he was yelling at Victim 2. HUGHES went up to Victim 2, grabbed her by the neck, and threw her into the window, which caused Victim 2 to hit her head on the window.
Victim 2 fell down onto the radiator. After assaulting Victim 2, HUGHES then strangled Victim 1 again, this time pinning her to the floor by her neck. Victim 1 reported that she could not breathe at all. Victim 1 fought back and HUGHES eventually let go of her. Victim 1 laid on the floor gasping for air while HUGHES went to her bedroom, grabbed her phone, and left the apartment. Victim 1 took her sister to the hospital. Victim 2 also provided a statement to police. She lives with Victim 1, and HUGHES was at the apartment on March 13th because he had spent the night there.
She heard an altercation occurring between HUGHES and Victim 1, and she heard Victim 1 tell HUGHES to stop. She asked Victim 1 if she was okay, and Victim 1 told her that she was while she was still yelling at HUGHES. HUGHES started yelling at Victim 2, then came into the living room and walked up to her. HUGHES grabbed Victim 2 by the neck and flung her back into the window causing her head to hit the window. She then fell onto her back on the radiator. She then saw HUGHES grab Victim 1 on her head.
Victim 2 left the apartment and sat on the steps on the first floor. HUGHES walked past her while he was leaving. She saw HUGHES take Victim 1’s phone. Victim 2 then went the hospital for treatment and she was diagnosed with three fractures in her spine. An investigator obtained Victim 2’s medical records, which showed that she was diagnosed with multiple lumbar transverse process fractures in her spine. HUGHES is out of custody and currently on conditional release for a felony domestic assault by strangulation against Victim 1. A warrant complaint is therefore requested so that conditions of release can be established.
