Man accused of attacking girlfriend

COEUR d’ALENE — A man is in jail after police said he attacked his girlfriend and later kicked in her front door.

Spokane Valley resident Aaron W. Malm, 28, is charged with aggravated assault, a felony.

Police responded on Saturday to a report of domestic violence at a Coeur d’Alene apartment.

A woman who identified herself as Malm’s girlfriend told police the couple had argued earlier that day, after which she went to see a friend. When she returned, she said she found Malm had punched a hole in a wall and she decided to leave again.

Malm allegedly blocked the door with his body to stop her from leaving. The woman reportedly pushed Malm, who pushed her back, into the kitchen counter. She said Malm took her phone from her.

The woman then reportedly tried to leave through the back door, but she said Malm grabbed her and threw her to the floor. When she yelled, Malm allegedly covered her mouth with his hand and told her the neighbors would hear.

She said she yelled again and Malm pinched her nose closed so that she couldn’t breathe.

She told police she was able to break free and attempted to exit through the back door again. She said Malm grabbed her and tried to pull her back into the apartment, but she held onto the door jamb, according to court documents.

Malm allegedly released her when she began to yell for help, the woman said. She reportedly ran to a neighbor, who drove her to a friend’s residence, where she called 911.

Police accompanied the woman to her apartment so she could gather some belongings, according to court documents. Malm was not at the residence when police arrived.

The woman called police again around 4 p.m. She said she had returned to her apartment with friends in order to change the locks and pick up more belongings when Malm arrived. The woman and her friends reportedly exited through the back door.

When police arrived, Malm was reportedly inside the apartment and initially refused to come out, according to court documents. The front door of the apartment had been kicked in, police said.

Malm allegedly told police he and the woman had argued earlier in the day and he had stood in the door to prevent her from leaving. He said the woman pushed him and he pushed her back before leaving the apartment, according to court documents.

Malm’s right hand was scraped and his knuckles were bloody, police said.

Police arrested Malm at the scene.

Judge Robert Caldwell ordered Monday that Malm be held on $100,000 bail and issued a no contact order between Malm and the woman.