Richfield Man Allegedly Beats Woman With Chair Arm

A Richfield man has been charged with felony domestic assault after allegedly striking a woman with a wooden chair arm after they argued over a text message.

Darryl Stanley Smith, 51, could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, compiled by Detective Patrick Moriarty, officers were called to an apartment building in the 7600 block of Penn Avenue South just after 3 a.m. March 11 on a report of a disturbance.

When officers arrived, they reportedly heard an argument behind the apartment door. Officers knocked on the door and identified themselves as police, however, the man, Smith, refused to open the door. Eventually, Police kicked open the door and found Smith and the victim.

According to the complaint, the woman said Smith had grabbed her behind the neck and after she fell to the floor he began hitting her in the arm with the arm of a broken chair. The woman also told police that she and Smith were in a romantic relationship and have a child in common. She said Smith had been drinking, and he became angry when she received a text message. In addition, the complaint said the woman told police that Smith often beats her, however, she never reported the previous instances of abuse for fear of violating apartment rules on domestic violence.

Smith’s criminal record includes a conviction for fifth-degree assault in 2005 and domestic assault in 2006. He remained in the Hennepin County Jail Tuesday on a $40,000 bond and was scheduled to make a first appearance on the charge Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court.