Minnetonka Man Arrested for Domestic Assault, Outstanding Warrants

A Minnetonka man has been charged with punching a woman in the head and violating a protection order last weekend.

Landon Gregory Braaten, 28, is charged with two felonies: domestic assault and violating a protection order, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Braaten remained in the Hennepin County Jail Friday on a $60,000 bond. He was also being sought on a number of unrelated outstanding warrants for domestic assault, disorderly conduct and driving with a revoked driver’s license.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim reported to police on Jan. 14 that she and Braaten – who had previously been involved in a romantic relationship – had gone to a bar on Jan. 13 to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

At the bar, the victim said, she took a call on her call phone. Braaten became enraged, thinking she was speaking to another man, according to police, and he took the victim’s cell phone and purse and left the bar.

The victim followed, and Braaten put her in his car and began driving to his home in the 2800 block of Jordan Avenue in Minnetonka. In the car Braaten punched the victim in the head several times, causing her to hit the passenger window, police say, She told police that she was dizzy and was seeing stars.

Braaten took the victim’s car keys, purse and cell phone into his apartment and forced the victim to sleep in his room, according to the complaint. When she woke up the next morning, Braaten allowed her to leave, but asked her not to report the incident to police because he knew his next domestic assault would be classified as a felony, the complaint says.

Police observed “numerous injuries” to the victim’s face, including a swollen and bruised left eye, a swollen cheek, a swollen left wrist and cuts and bruising inside her mouth.

Braaten’s next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 9 in Hennepin County District Court.