North Dakota Man Charged with Stabbing Woman with Pliers Over Conversation: Report

A man from North Dakota has been charged following a domestic incident that reportedly escalated into violence.

This week, Fargo authorities responded to a woman’s call asserting that she had been stabbed. Police arrived at the apartment around 8:26 p.m. and noticed two circular cuts near her elbow along with other red marks on her chest and neck. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, allegedly informed the officers that a man, Michael David Schaffer, became enraged after seeing her speaking loudly with another individual.

The nature of her relationship with Schaffer remains unclear.

According to reports, Schaffer started breaking items in the apartment out of anger before he allegedly pushed her against a wall and choked her for about one minute. The woman stated that when she requested him to stop, he purportedly grabbed a pair of pliers and stabbed them into her elbow.

After the incident, Schaffer supposedly left the residence but returned and was found by police in the building’s entryway. He was arrested and taken to Cass County Jail on Thursday, January 22, where he faces charges of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic violence/assault causing serious bodily injury.

Schaffer’s arraignment was set for Friday, January 23.

He denies all accusations, claiming the woman was the aggressor in the incident.

In North Dakota, aggravated assault is usually classified as a Class B or C felony based on the specific situation and the victim involved. If convicted, penalties may include a maximum of five years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Additionally, a first offense for domestic violence assault could lead to up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, as detailed by Reichert Law.

The North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition states that one in four women and one in ten men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, reporting significant impacts during their lifetime.

This is not Schaffer’s first encounter with law enforcement. In 2019, the Metro Street Crime Unit arrested him and four others while investigating a stolen vehicle, according to Valley News Live.

Andrew John Patrick Collison was arrested on charges related to marijuana possession, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, refusing to stop, possessing a stolen vehicle, providing false information to law enforcement, and having an open warrant. Other individuals taken into custody included Linda Lou Poitra, who faced citations for drug possession, Shawn Michael Schwandt, arrested for aggravated assault and other charges, and James Edward Martinez, who was charged with possession of meth and other drug-related offenses.

At the time, Schaffer was 28 years old and was apprehended for an alleged probation violation.

If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance.