Bemidji Woman Charged in Alleged Machete Assault

Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji woman faces two charges following an alleged domestic dispute involving a machete.

Chelsey Ann Durant, 33, is charged in Beltrami County District Court.

She faces felony second-degree assault and misdemeanor domestic assault.

The charges stem from an incident reported on July 28, 2026.

911 Call Reports Possible Assault

Police responded around 6:28 p.m. after receiving an open 911 call from a Bemidji apartment.

Someone on the call could be heard saying, “stop hurting me,” according to the complaint.

Police arrived and spoke with a man identified in court records as G.B.

G.B. told investigators that Durant was his girlfriend.

He alleged Durant confronted him over concerns that he had received a message from another woman.

The argument then became physical, according to his statement.

G.B. alleged Durant pulled his hair and punched him.

He also claimed Durant grabbed a machete and began swinging it toward him.

The complaint says G.B. reported that Durant threatened to kill him.

Investigators reported seeing scratches across his chest and back.

Police learned Durant had left the apartment before officers arrived.

A neighbor reportedly saw her enter a white SUV headed toward Algoma Park.

Law enforcement later stopped a vehicle near Irvine Avenue NW and Fern Street NW.

Durant was found in the back seat and arrested, according to the complaint.

After receiving a Miranda warning, Durant gave investigators a different account.

Durant claimed G.B. became physical after she questioned him about another woman.

She alleged he pulled her from a bed and pinned her down.

Durant also claimed G.B. choked her until she briefly lost consciousness.

She said she scratched him and pulled his hair while trying to escape.

Durant acknowledged grabbing what she described as a small machete.

She said she threw it toward G.B. but denied trying to strike him.

The complaint says officers reported no visible redness on Durant’s neck.

They also reported no visible eye signs associated with strangulation.

Durant faces second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon under Minnesota law.

The felony carries up to seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine.

The domestic assault charge carries up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The state’s domestic assault law is also available online.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

Durant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.