Bemidji Man Charged In Domestic Assault Case
Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man is facing a gross misdemeanor domestic assault charge after a welfare check led police to a home on 22nd Street NW.
Frank Dennis Bigbear Sr. has been charged in Beltrami County District Court with domestic assault, subsequent violation. The case was filed under court file number 04-CR-26-1146.
The charge is tied to an alleged incident on or about May 19, 2026. Court records say the case involves a family or household member.
Welfare Check Led To Investigation
According to the criminal complaint, Bemidji Police were sent to the home early on May 20. The call came in at about 1:41 a.m.
Officers were asked to check on a possible domestic assault victim. The reporting party said the victim may have returned to the 22nd Street NW home.
The complaint states that officers were told the victim had bruising and bite marks on her arm. Officers then went to the residence to check on her safety.
When officers arrived, they heard a man and a woman talking inside. Bigbear Sr. came to the door and allowed officers into the home.
Complaint Details Alleged Injury
The complaint says the victim was sitting on a bed when officers spoke with her. Officers noted she spoke quietly and looked down.
The victim showed officers a large bruise on her arm. Court records say the bruise had deeper marks that may have been caused by teeth.
The victim told officers Bigbear Sr. bit her while they were on a living room couch. She said he believed she was cheating.
She also said Bigbear Sr. tackled her on the couch. She denied that he had hit her.
Officers later photographed the injury. The complaint also notes a long scratch mark with bruising on the victim’s shoulder.
Defendant Denied Assault
Bigbear Sr. denied knowing about the bite mark or bruise, according to the complaint.
During a Mirandized statement, he said scratches on his body came from breaking up a fight. He said the fight involved the victim and another woman.
Bigbear Sr. denied assaulting the victim.
The complaint says Bigbear Sr. has a prior domestic-related conviction within the past ten years. That prior case was listed as a 2016 gross misdemeanor fifth-degree assault conviction.
The current charge carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both. More information about Minnesota domestic assault law is available through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
Court case information may be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online.
A criminal complaint is only an allegation. Bigbear Sr. is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.