MN House candidate charged after strangling wife's son over pizza dispute
Republican District 51A candidate Bradly Gerten, of Burnsville, has been charged with two counts of domestic assault after fighting over pizza. The 41-year-old man was booked into Dakota County Jail on Sunday.
According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Fairview Ridges on Oct. 1 on a report of a domestic assault that occurred at a residence in Burnsville. Upon arriving, police located the woman who called 911.
She said that her husband, Bradly Gerten, asked her son if there was any pizza left in the kitchen. According to her son, he told him that there wasn’t any left. Gerten then went into the kitchen and grabbed her son. After the woman said, “don’t put your hands on my son,” Gerten pushed her from behind, and she fell to the ground.
Then her son jumped between his mother and the defendant, and a fight ensued.
During the fight, the woman saw Gerten “choke” her son and believed he strangled him for a few seconds.
Police spoke with the son who said he was unloading the dishwasher when Gerten asked him about the pizza.
When Gerten entered the kitchen, he grabbed his wife's son and shoved him. When he was able to get away from Gerten, the son went to go check on his older brother.
According to the complaint, the son then heard a thud and saw his mother on the ground. He and Gerten started fighting and Gerten choked him. He said that while he was being strangled, “he had a difficult time breathing and felt like he was going to black out.” He believes he was strangled for about 10 seconds. The fight ended after Gerten released his grip.
Gerten is charged with domestic assault by strangulation, which is a felony offense with a maximum of three years in jail and/or a $1,500 - $5,000 fine. He is also charged with domestic assault (intentionally inflict or attempt to inflict bodily harm), a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of 90 days and/or a $300 - $1,000 fine.