On December 20, 2025, officers from the St. Cloud Police department were dispatched to a residence in the 2000 block of Clearwater Road in the City of St. Cloud, County of Stearns on a report of a domestic assault. Officers met with C. D. C. E., an adult female victim [NAME REDACTED] in the police reports, who indicated she was attacked by Eric Benel Otey, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein. C. D. C. E. Reported the defendant picked her up from an appointment and went to her residence. C. D. C. E. Reported the defendant had been drinking.
She stated the defendant began aggressively putting his arm around her and hugging her neck area. The defendant then put his arm around her and headbutted her. C. D. C. E. Asked the defendant to leave. She stated she went and sat in the stairwell of the complex. C. D. C. E. Stated the defendant came to where she was and began yelling so she went back into her residence and he followed her. She reported the defendant then grabbed her by the hair from behind and pulled her down on the couch. The defendant called her names and told her she needed to respect him.
C. D. C. E. Stated he eventually let her up and she ran to her bedroom. She stated the defendant chased her and she tried to throw things at him to keep him away. She stated she grabbed a ski mask he was wearing and they both fell to the ground. She stated the defendant hit his head on the closet. C. D. C. E. Stated she was yelling for the defendant to get away. She also stated she was yelling "help me", "fire" and "call the police" in hopes a neighbor would hear her. C. D. C. E. Stated she ended up on the bed and was trying to kick the defendant away from her.
The defendant again grabbed her by the hair. She stated she was able to roll off the bed and began trying to call police. She stated the defendant left the room and began yelling about her calling police. C. D. C. E. And the defendant are family or household members. The defendant left the scene prior to police arriving. Police located the defendant at his residence and placed him under arrest. The defendant claimed he got into an argument with C. D. C. E. Over her drug use. The defendant claimed it was only verbal.
When police indicated that C. D. C. E. Stated she pushed the defendant, the defendant then claimed he was shoved. A review of the defendant's criminal history shows a prior felony conviction for Assault in the Third Degree in Benton County District Court File No. ••-CR-••-••••, offense date 12/6/24, convicted 8/7/25, sentenced 10/16/25 and gross misdemeanor Interfere with 911 Call in Stearns County District Court File No.••-CR-••-••••, offense date 4/6/24, convicted 1/17/25, sentenced 4/1/25. Both offenses were domestic violence related involving different victims.
Complainant has reason to believe and does believe that all of the above information is true and correct. The above facts constitute your complainant's basis for believing that the above-named defendant, from on or about the 20th day of December, 2025, in the City of St. Cloud, County of Stearns, State of Minnesota, committed the offense(s) described herein.
