Fargo (trfnews.i234.me) — Pavithra Rajakaruna of Fargo was arrested after a reported domestic dispute.
She faces charges of terrorizing and aggravated assault, according to police documents.
Report made the day after the incident
Fargo police received a call the day after a Dec. 15 incident, the documents state.
The caller reported a dispute involving a husband and wife inside an apartment.
Allegations in the case
The documents say the couple was talking on a couch that night.
During that talk, Rajakaruna allegedly threatened to kill her husband and his family.
The documents say she then went to the kitchen and retrieved a large knife.
The husband told police he felt scared when he saw the knife.
The husband said he later got her to calm down and put it away.
They continued talking and later lay down to sleep, the documents say.
The husband told police he woke up during the night and felt hands on his neck.
He said Rajakaruna used both hands, and it was hard to breathe.
He left the apartment and contacted the police because he feared for his life.
Police reported seeing marks on the husband’s neck, the documents state.
Mugshot of Pavithra Rajakaruna
Police interview
Police later spoke with Rajakaruna, according to the documents.
She confirmed grabbing the husband’s neck, the documents say.
She also confirmed taking a kitchen knife to threaten him, police reported.
Charges and public records
Rajakaruna was arrested on charges of terrorizing and aggravated assault.
Charges are allegations and must be proven in court.
Case information may appear in the North Dakota courts’ public search system.
That site is available through publicsearch.ndcourts.gov.
Fargo Police Department information is posted at fargond.gov.
What the law covers
North Dakota law defines “terrorizing” in Century Code section 12.1-17-04.
It involves threats meant to place someone in fear for safety, among other factors.
Aggravated assault is addressed in section 12.1-17-02 of the same chapter.
Those statutes are published by the North Dakota Legislative Branch.
They are available in Chapter 12.1-17 at ndlegis.gov.
If you need help
If you are in danger, call 911.
Confidential help is also available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.