Bemidji Man Faces 4 Charges After Hotel Assault

Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man faces four charges after an alleged assault inside a local hotel room.

Matthew James Littlewolf, 20, is charged with felony domestic assault by strangulation and felony false imprisonment.

He also faces gross misdemeanor domestic assault and interference with an emergency call.

The charges stem from an incident reported early July 31, 2026.

911 Calls Lead To Welfare Check

Bemidji police were sent to a Best Western around 6:20 a.m., according to the criminal complaint.

An anonymous caller reported hearing a woman crying and asking to leave a hotel room.

Dispatch also received a 911 hang-up call while officers were responding.

A second 911 call later came from the same number, prosecutors say.

Officers knocked several times but received no answer.

They entered the room to conduct a welfare check.

A woman then told officers that Littlewolf had assaulted her, according to the complaint.

The woman and Littlewolf share a child but were no longer in a relationship.

The woman said Littlewolf began punching her after she opened the hotel room door.

She alleged he struck the side of her head at least three times.

She also said Littlewolf repeatedly blocked the doorway while she tried to leave.

Prosecutors allege Littlewolf later wrapped an arm around her neck from behind.

The woman said the pressure restricted her breathing and nearly caused her to lose consciousness.

Officers reported seeing bruises and scratches on her shoulder and upper arm.

They also reported a cut inside her lower lip.

The woman told investigators she called 911 twice during the incident.

She alleged Littlewolf took her phone while she was trying to contact emergency dispatchers.

She also said Littlewolf told her to remain quiet when police arrived.

Littlewolf was arrested at the hotel, according to the complaint.

The gross misdemeanor domestic assault charge cites a prior qualifying juvenile domestic assault adjudication from 2024.

Both felony counts carry maximum penalties of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The case is filed as Beltrami County court file 04-CR-26-1777.

Readers can review Minnesota Statute 609.2247 regarding domestic assault by strangulation.

False imprisonment law appears under Minnesota Statute 609.255.

Emergency-call interference is covered by Minnesota Statute 609.78.

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

Littlewolf is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.