Brown County

District Court

• A felony domestic assault charge was filed against Phillip Potter, 59, 215 Water St. S.W., Sleepy Eye, Tuesday. According to court documents, Sleepy Eye Police were called from a woman at 12:44 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3 who said she was hiding from her boyfriend in a garage at 215 Water St. S.W. She said he was beating on the windows and trying to enter the garage because he was mad at her.

Police arrived and saw Potter standing near the garage. Police asked him what was going on and his speech was very slurred and almost incoherent.

An officer talked to the woman who said Potter left the house to get coffee creamer and that he was mad at her because he thinks she is cheating on him, so she decided to sleep in the garage, where she made up a bed.

The woman showed police how she barricaded herself in the garage but he pounded out plexiglass covering a window. She said she tried to protect herself with a broom but she feared for her safety as she could hear Potter saying “I’m gonna get in there.”

Potter was arrested for domestic assault. He submitted to a preliminary breath test that did not register alcohol.

He was convicted of domestic assault-commits act to cause fear of immediate bodily harm on April 5, 2017 and violation of an Order for Protection in Brown County Court. Both convictions are qualified, domestic violence-related offenses.

Potter’s unconditional bail was set at $20,000 Tuesday, $5,000 with conditions. A court appearance was set for 8:30 a.m., Aug. 18.