WINONA, Minn. – A Winona man beat up his adult son because he disliked the son’s relationship with a girlfriend, according to a criminal complaint. The complaint accused Donald Lyle Brantner, age 69, of domestic abuse causing fear and harm. The incident was several days earlier, but police learned of it only after a report had wended its way through a state agency that protects vulnerable adults. The son lived with his father at 127 5 Randall Street on the West Side. When police arrived at the address, they interviewed the son. These are details from the son: In an argument, his father raised a fist as if to punch him in his face and threatened: “I’m going fucking to knock you out.” The father grabbed the son’s collar and squeezed tightly. He was “crushing it.” At the hospital the injury was diagnosed as a displaced and fractured clavicle. Days later, police said, the son still had bruises from his right shoulder to his pectorals. The son said his father pushed him to the floor but he managed to catch himself and threw a glass of water in his faher’s facr and pit distance between them. The son told officers he had become fearful of his father, didn’t feel safe, and didn’t want to live with him anymore. During the police interview, the father came home. He said his son was lying and called him vile names. He swore vulgarities at officers and resisted arrest. He was cuffed and taken to jail.
