Five-Time Domestic Assault Convict Arrested in Richfield Motel

A Hopkins man convicted of five domestic assault offenses in the past 10 years—and charged with a sixth in August—has been charged with violating a protection order after police found him holed up in a Richfield hotel room with the same woman he’s accused of assaulting in the most recent incident.

Ralph Fitzgerald Martin, 48, is facing a new felony charge of violating an order for protection, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the latest criminal complaint, signed by Detective Eric Lammle, police went to the with an arrest warrant for Martin on Aug. 26.

When they knocked on Martin’s room door, he answered and identified himself as Ralph Martin. Police spotted Martin’s wife—who has a protection order against Martin—inside the room.

The protection order prohibits Martin from having any contact, either direct or indirect, with the victim.

Martin’s criminal history includes two convictions for domestic assault in 2003 and another in 2004, a fifth-degree assault conviction in 2004 and a conviction in 2005 for violating a no-contact order.

Last month, Martin was charged with felony domestic assault in Hopkins after his wife told police that he had been drinking and becoming increasingly aggressive, eventually slapping her in the face and dragging her across his apartment by her hair.  

Martin has been released from custody on a $10,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled Sept. 24 in Hennepin County District Court.