On June 22, 2025, at approximately 8:03 P.M., deputies of the Mower County Sheriffs Office were dispatched to the area of 220'" Street and 581% Avenue in the County of Mower for a physical domestic. The reporting party (Witness 1, an adult female) advised that she saw a man hit Cca woman on the face while at a black SUV (MN license KTK850). It was also reported that the woman was yelling to call 911 for help. Witness 1 stated that the female got into the vehicle and the male grabbed her and started hitting the female.
Deputy Jimenez arrived at the location and made contact with Witness 1. Witness 1 stated that the couple were located at a few trailer homes down the road and the black SUV was parked in the driveway. While speaking with Witness 1, a group of individuals began to wave towards the deputy indicating the female (Victim A, an adult) was being assaulted again. Jimenez drove to [APT REDACTED] where the SUV was parked. Jimenez observed the male, MARK SCOTT SHANK, DOB/072479, the defendant herein, standing by the doorway of the trailer home.
The defendant immediately went inside and yelled, "cops are here." A short time later, Victim A stepped out of the trailer. Jimenez observed the female to have markings on her hands and cuts around her face as if she had been struck by someone. Victim A appeared as though she had been crying and was visibly shaking. Jimenez attempted to get Victim A to step outside for safety, but she was not cooperative and argued as to why the deputies were there. Deputy Jimenez advised Victim A that the neighbors observed the defendant hit her.
Victim A denied that she as assaulted and claimed the markings on her arms were from her dog. Jimenez asked if the defendant was inside, and Victim A said that he was the only person in the house. Deputy Jimenez then made contact with the defendant and asked what had happened. The defendant stated, "nothing." Jimenez then advised the parties as to what the neighbors saw and reported. Victim A said again that there was no assault and blamed her dog for the markings on her hands. When Jimenez pointed out the markings on her face, she seemed surprised and said they were from the dog again.
Deputy LaCore arrived and heard the defendant and Victim A claim that no one had hit each other and that nothing had happened. LaCore detained the defendant and placed him in the back of the squad car. LaCore read the defendant the Miranda warning and the defendant agreed to speak with the deputy. While speaking with the defendant, LaCore observed him to have bloodshot, watery eyes, and smelled an odor of alcoholic beverages coming off his breath. The defendant told Deputy LaCore that Victim A woke up angry this morning and they had been fighting all day.
He stated that things got worse, and they started "throwing s***" around the residence. The defendant said that Victim A tried to leave the residence and they were arguing. The defendant said he grabbed the keys and potentially broke them. He stated that he was bitten by Victim A but refused to show the deputy his arm. LaCore did see a small, thin scratch on the defendant's right arm. The defendant stated that the situation was not all his fault, nor was it all Victim A's fault. Deputy LaCore asked the defendant what happened when he was bitten by Victim A. The defendant shrugged and shook his head back and forth.
