Man facing assault charges after police find him fighting with woman holding child

Bemidji, Minn. (Valley News Live) A 25-year-old man is facing two assault charges and an interfering with a peace officer charge after police say they found him attacking a woman holding a young child.

Court documents say this happened on Thursday, June 20 at an apartment in Bemidji. Dispatch took a call from a unit on the northwest side of town, but could only hear screaming on the line. Police were sent to the building to investigate.

Documents say the officers were let into the building by neighbors and could hear screaming from the unit and a baby crying.

Once officers got into the unit, they found Donald Negron wrestling with a woman who was holding a child. Officers say Negron was trying to take the child away from the woman, and the child was screaming and looked terrified.

Court papers say the officers got in and tried to free the woman and child from Negron's grip. They were eventually able to get the child out, but then Negron held onto the woman's hair.

Eventually, officers used a taser to get Negron under control. He was then taken into custody.

When officers talked to the woman, they learned Negron was a guest in the home, invited to stay there for one night after the woman and Negron met in treatment.

Once Negron arrived at the home, court documents say he freaked out at the children and took the baby, starting the fight.

This isn't the suspect's first run-in with the law. He has two prior domestic violence convictions. He's also currently facing an unrelated felony theft and fleeing charge.

Each assault charge carries a possible sentence of 5 years in jail and/or a $10,000 fine.

His next court date is set for July 15, 2019.