Faribault man charged with domestic assault after Mystic Lake Casino Hotel incident

Prior Lake American

A 35-year-old Faribault man has been charged in connection to a March 25 domestic assault incident at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel for allegedly strangling his girlfriend of three years.

Matthew Edwin Roehrick was charged with one count of domestic assault by strangulation, one count of a subsequent domestic assault violation and one count of interfering with a 911 call.

According to court documents:

The victim told police she came to the casino with her boyfriend, identified as Roehrick, and that he began assaulting her when they reached their room at the hotel.

The victim said that “anything can cause” Roehrick to allegedly lash out and she “was not sure what it was tonight.” She said Roehrick threw her to the floor and began punching and choking her and she told him that she could not breathe.

The victim said she screamed for help but Roehrick covered her mouth. She said she was able to call 911, but he took her phone from her and hung up the call before continuing to hit her in the face, neck and head. Officers were dispatched to Mystic Lake Casino Hotel as a result of the disconnected call.

The victim told police that Roehrick usually “hits her in the head so that it doesn’t leave a mark.” She said she tried to fight him off by scratching him. When she attempted to make it out of the room, Roehrick allegedly dragged her back inside. Police reviewed hotel footage and saw the victim trying to run out of the room before it appeared that someone pulled her back inside.

Security showed up at the room and Roehrick allegedly told them everything was fine. The victim said she was able to get out in the hallway with security. On the hotel surveillance, security can be seen escorting Roehrick away from the room.

When officers arrived at the hotel, Roehrick was in the hotel parking ramp with security and the victim was at the hotel bell stand. The police officer said they noticed a cut on the bridge of the victim’s nose, a blackening left eye and a reddish mark along her hairline.

The victim confirmed she had made the 911 call that was disconnected and when asked what happened, she began to cry.

Roehrick told police that he and his girlfriend had been arguing all day and things “got physical” when they got to their hotel room. Roehrick said the victim hit him in the face, so he pushed her in self defense. He said he did not want to fight with the victim, so he left the room. A responding officer could see scratches on Roehrick’s face.

Roehrick has been previously convicted of domestic assault in 2016, involving the same victim in Rice County. He posted a $30,000 bond on Wednesday morning and was released.

His first court appearance was scheduled for March 30 at the Scott County Courthouse.