A 22-year-old Spring Lake Park man allegedly strangled his ex-girlfriend, threw her to the floor and threatened to pistol-whip her with a handgun that had been reported stolen from a South Carolina police station.
Tahjer Charles Winston faces charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic assault by strangulation and domestic assault in Anoka County District Court. Second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
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According to the complaint, officers responded to the Terrace Manor Apartments on the 300 block of 83rd Avenue Northeast in Spring Lake Park around 10:45 p.m. on March 25. The victim had approached a neighbor for help, telling her that her ex-boyfriend had a firearm and had assaulted her.
Officers found the victim scared, anxious and crying, the documents say. She had marks on her wrist, chest and back along with bruising on her shoulder. She told officers it was not safe and that she couldn't stay there.
The victim said she and Winston had been arguing about people coming over. She threw his phone off the balcony and he responded by strangling her with both hands, making it hard for her to breathe. He then picked her up and threw her to the floor, causing her to hit her head.
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When she called 911, Winston tried to take her phone and allegedly left the apartment with it.
The victim told officers Winston had a handgun and threatened to pistol-whip her with it. He also used the gun to break her television.
She turned over a gun case labeled for a Glock 30 Gen 5 with a serial number that had been reported stolen from a police station in South Carolina. Officers also recovered a bag containing bullets, two loaded magazines, one empty magazine, a magazine reloader and a firearm flashlight.
A warrant was issued for Winston and he was arrested on Sunday. He remains in custody at the Anoka County Jail and an initial court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
