Eagan Man Charged With Beating, Strangling Girlfriend Over Eight-Hour Span

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A 27-year-old Eagan man faces multiple felony charges after police say he repeatedly beat his girlfriend over an eight-hour span on Aug. 18 and 19, leaving her bruised, cut and barely able to walk.

Trong Hoang Nguyen Le is charged with one count of felony domestic assault by strangulation, one felony count of issuing terroristic threats, one felony count of false imprisonment and one felony count of domestic assault. If convicted on the terroristic threats charge, Le could face a maximum of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Police say the assault began at 10 p.m. on Aug. 18, while the victim was staying with Le in an apartment they shared. Le, who had allegedly been drinking, became jealous and accused the victim of talking to other men, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney's Office.

At that point, police say Le punched the victim several times in the face, then began kicking her repeatedly in the legs when she fell to the floor. Police say Le also strangled the victim for nearly a minute, hit her with a remote control and dumped a beer on her.

Later, police say the defendant opened the apartment door and told the victim to leave. But when she started to walk out, he allegedly yelled at her to get back into the apartment. The victim told police that she was so afraid of him and what he might do to her and her family that she obeyed.

The victim also told officers that Le told her he would "put a hit out on her and her family" if she called the police, according to the criminal complaint.

Le continued to beat the woman from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., at which point he allegedly passed out, police say. Officers, interviewing the woman, noticed multiple bruises and scratches on her neck, legs and arms, and swelling on the side of her eye. The woman also had difficulty walking as the result of her injuries, police say.

Police arrested Le at his apartment, where they allegedly found a glass smoking pipe, synthetic marijuana and a marijuana pipe. Le has a prior conviction for domestic assault by strangulation in 2011, and is currently on probation for that felony offense.

Le is currently being held at the Dakota County Jail. Bail for the defendant was set at $175,000.