Faribault man accused of assaulting woman with shelf

A metal towel shelf can be a dangerous weapon, according to charges filed against a Faribault man.

Cody Wayne Amundson-Berg, 32, was charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon, misdemeanor domestic assault and gross misdemeanor interfering with a 911 call this week in Rice County District Court.

While investigating another matter earlier this month, Faribault police officers received reports that Amundson-Berg may have assaulted a woman, according to a court complaint.

An investigator met with the woman, who reported Amundson-Berg had been abusing her for years.

The woman described an alleged assault on March 21. She said Amundson-Berg picked up a 4-foot-tall metal towel shelving unit and swung it at her. She said the rack hit her in the jaw and caused her to bleed and possibly also gave her a concussion.

Amundson-Berg then reportedly ran out of his apartment with her cellphone. She alleged he nearly hit her with his vehicle when she went after him to get her phone. He reportedly dropped her phone out of the car window.

The woman alleged several other assaults within the past year, multiple times leaving her with a back eye, twice causing her to bleed and once while holding a child.

The 5-year-old child allegedly told the investigator he said witnessed Amundson-Berg hitting the woman.