ALTURA, Minn. – A badly beaten rural woman telephoned for help after making her way several miles into town and the safety of an Altura church. She said her live-in man-friend had beaten her for two days. At one point, she said, he threatened to slash her with a box cutter. To deputies she pointed to bruises, teeth marks and a swollen face. Police issued a bulletin for the man, who had driven off in the morning. The man, age 26, had no driver license, which police said impeded the hunt. The woman, age 22, said she and the man had broken up but gotten together again a month ago. They lived in the 17000 block of County Road 114 several miles northwest of Altura. Sheriff Ron Ganrude said he’s looking to charges of assault and threats of violence
A vivid, dreadful recollection
Through a Spanish translator, these are exceprts frim the woman’s account:
> In an argument the night before, the man pulled her hair and bit her cheek.
> After the initial assault she went to sleep, then went downstairs.
> The argument resumed. He grabbed her waist and a cheek, then left for errands.
> He returned as if nothing had happened. She went to a bedroom and laid down on a bed. He pushed her over, and she went downstairs again.
> He came down and ripped a plate she was holding and struck her with a fist.
> They went back and forth verbally. He said he was fed up with her. threw her to the floor, and kicked her two times.
> She went to the bedroom, grabbed his things, and told him to leave. He lunched her. She told him again to leave. He did.
> She was dizzy but made it to Altura and called for help.