Police Say Inver Grove Heights Man Repeatedly Smothered Woman

An Inver Grove Heights man has been charged with domestic assault by strangulation after authorities say he repeatedly held his hand over a woman’s mouth during an argument.

Vincent Marcus Frank Jr., 28, faces a felony charge of domestic assault by strangulation, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Frank is free on a $15,000 bond. A motion hearing in his case is scheduled for Monday, and an omnibus hearing Sept. 12 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.

According to the criminal complaint, Inver Grove Heights police were called to Frank’s home Aug. 14 and met with a woman who “appeared obviously upset, crying and hysterical.”

The victim said she and Frank had gotten into a verbal argument when he “went off,” screaming at her and putting his hand over her face so she couldn’t breathe four separate times.

The victim told police that Frank also bounced her head off the footboard of a bed, and that she had injured her leg during the assault.

Officers spoke to Frank, who told them that he and the victim “got into it,” according to the complaint. He admitted that he had put his hand over the victim’s mouth, but said he did it “because she was being loud,” the complaint says.