Brown County

District Court

• Gross misdemeanor domestic assault-subsequent violation and interrupting emergency call/communications charges were filed Aug. 16 against Nicolas D. Safford, 36, 613 6th St. N., New Ulm. Unconditional bail was set at $10,000. A hearing was set for 2:15 p.m., Aug. 30.

According to the complaint, New Ulm Police Senior Investigator Jeff Hohensee was dispatched to a domestic at 617 6th St. N. at 9:15 a.m. Aug. 14. The alleged victim told him she was assaulted by Safford after they argued and his punched her in the head/face, hitting her glasses. She had a red mark on her nose.

The woman said during the argument, Safford took her phone, preventing her from calling 911 and he pushed her into into the floor three times, so he went to a neighbor’s residence to call 911.

Hohensee and New Ulm Police Sgt. Chip Rasche went to Safford’s residence and arrested him. Hohensee noticed a cell phone on top of a couch and asked Safford if the phone was his. He said it was the woman’s cell phone.

Safford was convicted of interference with a 911 call, a prior, qualified domestic violence-related offense on Nov. 5, 2020 for a similar incident involving the same person.

• A felony threats of violence charge and misdemeanor violating harassment restraining order charge were filed Aug. 16 against Thomas R. Stamos, 67, 300 N. Broadway, New Ulm. Bail without conditions was set at $20,000. A hearing was set for 2:15 p.m., Aug. 30.

According to the complaint, New Ulm Police were dispatched to 300 N. Broadway on Aug. 13, 2021 for a report of an harassment restraining order (HRO) violation. Outside the building, the complainant said she had a current HRO against Stamos and that he earlier walked up to her and called her a “Nazi” and threatened to kill her.

The woman introduced police to a witness who said he was present when the incident happened.

Police met with Stamos in his residence where he admitted he was not supposed to be drinking due to probation conditions and that he had been drinking that today. Stamos told police the victim was lying and was a gang member and Nazi. Stamos said he was aware of the HRO but said he had not been served it. Police confirmed the HRO was served.

Stamos provided a preliminary breath test sample that read .4 and was told he would go to detox and probation was issuing an arrest and detail. He yelled at officers, calling them “devil worshippers” and that God would cast judgement on them. He yelled at the woman as he left the building, despite attempts to shield her.

• Two gross misdemeanor third-degree DWI charges were filed Aug. 16 against Michael S. Burt, 39, 2526 S. Bridge St., New Ulm. Bail without conditions was set at $12,000. A hearing was set for 2:15 p.m. Aug. 30.

According to the complaint, New Ulm Police were dispatched to a residence for a disturbance report at 7:09 a.m., Aug. 14, 2021. Sgt. Charles Rasche and others heard voices and later identified two people at the rear of the house asa Burt and another person.

Rasche immediately detected an alcoholic beverage odor coming from Burt. He exhibited intoxication clues. Burt told police he and the other person got into an argument a couple days ago that continued and that he wanted to talk with her at her friend’s house.

The woman told police Burt had been calling her at her friend’s residence all night and the calls were ignored.

Burt provided a preliminary breath test that read .16 and failed certain field sobriety tests. A breath sample given at 8:14 a.m. read .14 grams per 210 liters of breath. He was convicted of DWI in Nicollet County on April 25, 2012.