A woman in Oskaloosa says she was forced to seek safety in a Walmart restroom after her boyfriend allegedly grabbed her multiple times during an ongoing argument.
On December 19th at approximately 2:33 p.m., the Oskaloosa Police Department responded to a report of a domestic assault in the 2200 block of A Avenue West, at the Oskaloosa Walmart.
Officers made contact with the victim, who stated that she and her boyfriend of six years, 24-year-old Jason Richmond of Oskaloosa, were engaged in multiple verbal arguments while driving to the store. According to court documents, the victim attempted to exit the vehicle, and Richmond allegedly grabbed her arm. The arguments continued inside the Walmart, during which Richmond reportedly grabbed the victim’s arm a second time when she attempted to walk away.
The victim told authorities that she felt the only safe place to escape was the women’s restroom. Richmond then called 911, claiming the victim was in the bathroom and refusing to leave.
Police spoke with Richmond, who stated that both incidents of grabbing the victim’s arm were accidental and done out of fear. Officers observed two visible marks on the victim’s right arm: one on the lower forearm, red and purple, stretching a few inches across, and a second, larger red mark showing where fingers had dragged across her skin.
Richmond was arrested and is being held at the Mahaska County Jail on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault — Injury or Mental Illness, 1st offense, a serious misdemeanor. A preliminary hearing was held on December 29th. A no-contact order was issued against Richmond on December 20th.
