By Michael Stoll, Austin Daily Herald

 

AUSTIN — Edward Olmeda, 42, of Albert Lea was charged Tuesday in Mower County District Court with felony domestic assault, felony theft-take/drive motor vehicle without consent and felony theft-take/use/transfer movable property without consent.

According to the court complaint, a Mower County Deputy responded to a stolen vehicle report at 4:15 p.m. Saturday in the 21000 block of 582nd Avenue in Windom Township. A woman at the residence reported that her boyfriend, Olmeda, had stolen her 1999 Buick Century, which she had recently purchased for $600, and her iPhone X, which she valued at $1,500.

She told the deputy she was driving Olmeda from his residence in Albert Lea to hers, where she lives with her three minor children and a roommate, when they started arguing, the complaint states. She claimed Olmeda made several threatening movements, as if he was going to punch her in the face, during the argument. It frightened her so much that she pulled off of the highway and stopped the car. She said she was going to turn around and take Olmeda back to Albert Lea, but he told her to continue on to her residence.

They continued to argue throughout the day and Olmeda attempted to take her cell phone, the complaint states. She said he got on top of her as he tried to take the phone, scratching her hand in the process and saying, “Keep trying me and I’m going to kill you.” The deputy observed a 2-inch scratch on the woman’s hand.

Olmeda then took the phone from the woman and struck her in the head with his left hand, causing her to feel “light-headed,” the complaint states. She then said he took her car keys and got into the Buick’s driver seat. When she tried to get into the passenger side door, he put the car in reverse, then drove off at a high speed.

One of the woman’s children told the deputy they had witnessed Olmeda on top of their screaming mother and not letting her get up, the complaint states. They also said Olmeda pushed and slapped their mother.

Another deputy was dispatched to Freeborn County after Olmeda was arrested later in the day, the complaint states. An Albert Lea police officer advised Olmeda was found in possession of the woman’s cell phone. He was then transported to Mower County Jail, where he told law enforcement he and the woman had been smoking methamphetamine before the incident.

The complaint states he claimed the woman had been talking abusively toward him on the way to her residence and that he had yelled at her to pull over. He denied acting like he was going to hit her, but said he did say he would hurt her. When they arrived at her place, he said they continued to argue and he told her to take him home. Olmeda said the Buick’s keys were in his pocket and that he took her phone, which she told him to give back. They then went outside and he claimed she pushed him and told her daughter to “call the cops,” so he left in her car. He said she was holding the passenger side door and yelling, “Give me my phone,” as he was backing out. He denied striking her.

A review of Olmeda’s criminal history shows prior convictions for disorderly conduct, burglary, assault and violating a no contact order.

Olmeda will appear in court again Oct. 8.

 

See what happened last night in the PM report here.