Inver Grove Heights Woman Charged with Cutting, Biting Man

An Inver Grove Heights woman has been charged with punching, cutting and biting a man because he took away her car keys, fearing that she would drive drunk with her 2-year-old son in the car.

Desiree Cara Smith, 28, is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of a year and a day in prison and a $4,200 fine.

She is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of domestic assault, each of which has a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Inver Grove Heights police were called to Smith’s home in the 2500 block of 49th Street East on the evening of Dec. 10 to investigate a report of a domestic assault.

The victim told police that he and Smith had been arguing, and Smith said she was going to leave with the children. The victim said she had been drinking, and he feared that she wouldn’t be able to drive safely with the children in the car, so he took away her car keys.

Smith began to hit the victim, who went upstairs and locked himself in a bedroom. Shortly afterward, he opened the door and saw Smith carrying their 2-year-old son. He took the boy away from Smith, who punched the victim in the mouth, he told police.

During the altercation, the victim spotted a large kitchen knife on the banister at the top of the stairs. As he carried the child downstairs, Smith grabbed the knife and followed him, according to the complaint. When they reached the lower level, Smith lunged at him with the knife, he told police.

The victim put down the child and tried to wrest the knife away from Smith. During the struggle, Smith bit him on the hand, and he also suffered a cut on the palm of his left hand, he told police.

The victim had a swollen bottom lip with dried blood on it when police arrived. They also found drops of blood on the floor and a large block of kitchen knives that had been knocked off the counter and scattered on the floor.

Police found a large knife on the corner of the countertop with blood on its blade and handle.

Officers arrested Smith, who smelled strongly of alcohol, according to the complaint. She yelled at police while they were trying to arrest her and had to be asked repeatedly to calm down.

Smith has been released from custody on her promise to make all future court appearances. An omnibus hearing in her case is scheduled Jan. 7 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.