Man arrested on suspicion of domestic battery

By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Erick L. Campbell, 39, Lost Springs, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated domestic battery Monday on 350th Rd. near Vista Rd. for striking the victim multiple times, according to scanner reports.

No weapons or alcohol were involved, but the victim had been punched in the head, she said when calling in at 4:38 p.m.

According to reports, Campbell had locked the victim out of the house, and locked himself in the house’s basement.

“It’s just another thing we have to be aware of,” sheriff Rob Craft said.

Campbell’s bail was set at $25,000.

Sheriff’s deputies had to halt their return after Campbell was arrested, when Vista Rd. became too muddy just north of Lost Springs, and their other side was blocked by a passing train.

The victim refused medical transport.

At a time when fewer offenders are being arrested unless they are involved in battery incidents, law enforcement has been filing more long-form cases for lesser offenses, Hillsboro police chief Dan Kinning said.

“As soon as this is up it’s probably going to be a big burden on the courts because there will be so many cases at one time,” he said.

Marion police chief Clinton Jeffrey said he has not noticed a recent rise in the number of domestic disturbance calls.

“Maybe if I go back and look at the numbers, but it hasn’t been one that I’ve seen,” he said.

Craft noted there might be a small increase, but he is also unsure of exact numbers.

“Maybe a slight uptick, there are plenty of them,” he said.

Given how few domestic calls local departments regularly receive, even one or two extra calls in a month would be a significant percent increase, Jeffrey said.

One such call the department received last week was reported as a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of N. Cedar St., but when police arrived they found a lone woman in the house. The woman had reportedly been in a loud phone conversation with her mother at the time.

“I don’t think it’s an unusual call for us, something like that where somebody overheard and they didn’t know what was happening,” he said.