This case involves a law enforcement encounter.
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The defendant did not let go of the choke hold, and at one point, Victim A was turning purple from being choked by the defendant. Victim A was able to get up once, but was brought back down by the defendant and continued to be choked by the defendant. Witness 2 said he pulled the defendant off of Victim A by pulling on the defendant’s neck. Officer Heeren spoke to the defendant in the garage. The defendant said that Victim A and Witness 2 are always fighting and arguing, and tonight, the defendant had been in the living room when he heard what sounded like glass plates being broken and Victim A yelling “f#$K you, f#$k you.” The defendant said that after the plates were thrown, they all tried to hold Victim A down.
They then let him go, and the defendant went to the garage to smoke a cigarette. Officer Heeren placed the defendant under arrest and transported him to the Mower County Jail. 2 50-CR-26-509 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 3/20/2026 The defendant was administered a preliminary breath test at the jail with a result of 0.17 BAC. Officer Sovers followed the ambulance to finish gathering Victim A’s statement and transported Witness 1 and Witness 2 to the hospital at their request. Officer Sovers later learned by reviewing her backseat video and audio that Witness 1 asked Witness 2 if he had seen the defendant assault her in the past, and Witness 2 replied “yes.” Witness 2 also told Witness 1 that he saw the defendant slam Victim A into a shelf and onto the floor.
Witness 2 stated the defendant got on top of Victim A and choked Victim A.