Luverne man charged with domestic assault

Aug. 5--LUVERNE -- A Luverne resident is in Nobles County Jail following a report of a domestic assault at his residence.

Rock County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a July 29 call wherein a victim reported that Brandon Toutges, 28, had assaulted an adult household member. The victim detailed that a verbal argument had escalated, and Toutges choked the victim three times by wrapping his hands around their neck, causing them to fear for their life.

After the assault, Toutges allegedly took the victim's phone to prevent them from calling 9-1-1 and locked himself in another room. The victim then found an old phone and used that to call law enforcement.

When police arrived, Toutges was still hiding in his room. At first he refused to open the door, but when officers told him they would break the door down, he opened it, brandishing a screwdriver. Toutges reportedly only dropped the screwdriver when threatened with a taser.

Various drug paraphernalia and several plastic bags of methamphetamine were allegedly in plain sight inside Toutges's room.

Toutges was arrested and charged with felony domestic abuse by strangulation and gross misdemeanors of interfering with a 9-1-1 call and fifth-degree drug possession. The domestic abuse charge carries a maximum possible sentence of three years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine, but if Toutges is convicted, actual sentencing will be determined by his criminal history.

Toutges is being held in Nobles County Jail on bail set at $5,000 with conditions or $15,000 without.

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