Thief River Falls Man Faces Domestic Assault Charge
Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — Dante Shea Valenzuela faces two charges after an alleged domestic assault.
The incident occurred on June 15, 2026, according to a court complaint.
A Pennington County District Court complaint charges Valenzuela with gross misdemeanor domestic assault. He also faces a misdemeanor obstruction charge.
Court records identify the case as 57-CR-26-420.
The complaint alleges Valenzuela assaulted his girlfriend inside an apartment on Greenwood Street East. Prosecutors also cite a 2022 domestic assault conviction.
That prior conviction could raise the current charge to a gross misdemeanor. The charge carries up to 364 days in jail.
It also carries a possible $3,000 fine.
Police Called to Apartment
Officers were sent to the apartment at about 6:58 p.m. The caller said she and Valenzuela had been fighting.
She told officers that her daughter and phone remained inside. She also said Valenzuela’s young son was inside.
The woman initially said Valenzuela tried to strike her. She said she blocked the attempts before leaving the apartment.
The complaint says she later reported being struck more than ten times. She described blows to her head, arm, and shoulder.
She also reported a threat involving her hair. Officers observed injuries, according to the complaint.
Officers tried several times to contact Valenzuela. They announced their presence but received no answer.
The woman gave officers permission to enter the apartment. A master key was later brought to the scene.
Arrest Made Inside Bedroom
Officers entered and found Valenzuela in a bedroom with both children. The complaint does not report injuries to the children.
Police told Valenzuela he was under arrest. He allegedly pulled away while officers tried to place him in handcuffs.
The complaint says he continued yelling and pulling away while being escorted outside.
Valenzuela was charged with obstructing the legal process for allegedly resisting arrest. That charge carries up to 90 days in jail.
It also carries a possible $1,000 fine.
Case Remains Pending
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court. Valenzuela is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Minnesota’s domestic assault law appears under Section 609.2242.
The obstruction law appears under Section 609.50.
Public case information may be available through Minnesota Court Records Online.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.