An 18-year-old from Maplewood has been charged with felony assault for allegedly punching his girlfriend in the face at a North Saint Paul High School.
According to police, officers were called to North High School in North Saint Paul after staff reported a domestic assault involving two students. An 18-year-old girl told a school nurse she had been arguing with Strong in a stairwell when he punched her in the face. She was given an ice pack and later picked up by her mother.
The girl’s mother told police she arrived to find her daughter holding an ice pack over her face. After removing it, she saw visible disfigurement and brought her daughter to Children’s Hospital in Saint Paul. Staff there quickly referred them to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, where the girl was rushed into surgery. Doctors determined her jaw was broken in two places and one tooth had to be removed.
Surveillance video from the school reportedly shows the girl standing in the stairwell when Strong punches her on the left side of her face with his right fist. She stumbles into a wall, briefly squats on the floor, and then walks away clutching her face. Strong is seen fleeing down a staircase.
The girl’s mother said Strong sent flowers to their home and tried to call to apologize. His mother also visited the hospital to express their sympathies.
When officers went to Strong’s home, his mother said he wasn’t there and didn’t have his phone with him. Police informed her that Strong was wanted and asked her to call when he returned.
A warrant was issued for Strong’s arrest, but he later appeared in court and was released without bail. As a condition of his release, he is prohibited from having contact with the victim. If convicted of the most serious charge, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
