Apple Valley Man Charged with Strangling Woman on New Year's Day

An Apple Valley man has been charged with strangling a woman who locked herself and her 8-year-old son into a bathroom to get away from the assault.

Justin Reid Carlson, 38, is charged with domestic assault by strangulation, a felony with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Carlson is also charged with interfering with an emergency call, a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $3,000 fine, and misdemeanor domestic assault, which has a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Apple Valley police were called to a home in the 14700 block of Embry Path on Jan. 1 to investigate a reported domestic dispute, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim, who told police she was locked in the bathroom with her son, said Carlson was in the garage, where police found him.

The victim was shaking, crying and having trouble breathing when officers arrived. According to the report, she and Carlson had been arguing, and Carlson had become increasingly upset, yelling and telling her to “get the [expletive] out” and advising her to “go kill yourself,” in front of the boy.

The woman said she was sitting on the couch when Carlson ran at her from the bedroom. She got up to see where the child was, and Carlson grabbed her throat from behind, telling her, “I’m going to kill you,” according to the complaint.

The victim said she was unable to breathe during the assault. She struggled and got out of his grasp, but Carlson pushed her down onto the couch.

When the woman told Carlson that she was going to call the police, he chased her around the kitchen island, grabbing at her cell phone. She evaded Carlson and called 911, and the dispatcher advised her to lock herself and her son in the bathroom until officers arrived.

Carlson was arrested. He told police that he was guilty and should not have “laid a finger” on the victim, according to the complaint. Carlson asked officers where he could get help because he loves the victim and the boy, and that he needed “help and a place to go for this,” the complaint says.

Carlson has been released from custody pending further court proceedings.