ROCKLAND —  A Warren man appeared in court Feb. 15 to face charges for assaulting a woman and damaging their home.

Michael S. Banaszek, 30, was charged by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office with domestic violence assault, criminal mischief, criminal operating under the influence, operating without a license, and obstructing a report of a crime after he was arrested on Feb. 11.

Banaszek’s pleaded not guilty at his initial appearance in Knox County Unified Court. Justice Joyce Wheeler set his bail at $1,500 cash. He was later released from the Knox County Jail after posting bail.

According to the police affidavit, Sgt. John Palmer and Deputy Paul Pinkham of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a call from Knox Regional Communications Center of a domestic complaint in Warren. While they were en route to the scene, dispatch notified them that the man who was allegedly involved in the dispute had driven away from the scene in his SUV. The victim said that he been drinking.

Baranszek was located in Rockport near routes 17 and 90, by Officer Jim Moore, and was apprehended by Palmer while Pinkham went to the residence where the alleged assault had occurred.

Police observed that Banaszek smelled of alcohol and showed signs of intoxication, according to the affidavit. They conducted a field sobriety test at the scene.

At the home in Warren, the victim told the deputies that Banaszek had assaulted her and damaged the couch, broke a table and punched a hole in the bedroom door when she went in there to hide and call police, according to the affidavit.

She told police that she had been together with Banaszek for three years and this was about the 10th time that this type of an incident had taken place. The victim said that she has the children go into another room and tells them to turn up the television so they can't hear him yelling names at her, according to the affidavit.

Banaszek denied the allegations that he touched the victim, including knocking the phone out of her hand when she called 911.

He is applying for a court appointed attorney.

Banaszek will appear in court again on May 11. 

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com