Suspect arrested in alleged burglary, assault

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BROOKINGS – A Brookings man was arrested after he allegedly entered a residence and assaulted a woman, hitting her head against a bedframe and dragging her out of the bed, according to Brookings Police.

The incident was reported at 4:23 a.m. Sunday and occurred in the 100 block of Second Avenue South, Lt. Marci Gebers said.

Dodge Waldera, 23, of Brookings, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault domestic, first-degree burglary, and trespassing with intent to eavesdrop.

“Officers learned that Mr. Waldera was involved in a domestic relationship with a female … who resides at that residence,” Gebers said.

“Mr. Waldera entered the residence without permission from anyone who resides there, and he proceeded to physically assault the female by grabbing her and pulling her out of the bed and slamming her head against the bedframe several times,” Gebers said.

“Then he began dragging her down the hallway and it was at that point that an individual in the residence was able to break up … the altercation there and he left the residence,” Gebers said.

“Alcohol was a factor in this one,” Gebers said.

The female refused medical attention, Gebers said.

Waldera was arrested and transported to the Brookings County Detention Center.

“We’ve had a number of domestic assault calls recently,” Gebers said. She had some advice for victims or their family members.

“I just want to make sure that people are aware that if they are a victim of domestic violence or if they have a loved one who is in a violent relationship, we do have resources here in town such as the domestic abuse shelter and that is … staffed 24 hours a day and they have a crisis hotline for victims of domestic violence,” Gebers said.

The shelter’s numbers are 692-SAFE or 692-7233, and the toll-free number is 888-643-5400, she said.

“They are a wonderful, wonderful resource that we have here in Brookings, and they can help victims, but they can also help victims’ family members (and) friends with how to deal with situations such as domestic violence or even sexual assault,” Gebers said.

The shelter has information on different resources available and can provide guidance on options to people in a domestic violence relationship or if they have a loved one in an abusive relationship, she said.

If you are being assaulted, call 911. The Brookings Police Department’s non-emergency number is 605-692-2113.