A 39-year-old Minden man was arrested early Wednesday morning for domestic abuse battery with strangulation following an incident at a residence in the 100 block of Emerald Drive.
Billy Scott Fowler was taken into custody around 4AM on April 9 after a woman reported being physically assaulted by her longtime boyfriend. According to police, the victim arrived at the Minden Police Department with visible signs of serious bodily injury, which were photographed as evidence.
The victim stated the altercation began approximately two hours before she arrived at the station. She reported that Fowler struck her in the face with a headbutt, followed by punches to the mouth and ribs. During the incident, Fowler allegedly placed the victim in a lateral vascular neck restraint, cutting off her airway, and pushed her face into the bedding.
The victim told police she felt as though she could not breathe during the choking and while her face was pressed into the mattress. Officers observed bruising and swelling around her left eye, a bloodied lip, discoloration on her ribs and upper left arm, and drag marks on her shins and legs.
According to the report, the argument began when the victim became upset with Fowler for not being at the hospital with their son, who is in the ICU for a critical leg injury. She stated Fowler was instead with another woman, watching her children and playing outside with them.
The two have reportedly been in a relationship for approximately 16 years.
Responding officers noted that Fowler appeared intoxicated at the time of arrest and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. He was transported to the Minden Police Department and booked.
Fowler was charged with domestic abuse battery with strangulation.
All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.