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Craig Brian Chavez was charged on March 3, 2025, with 8 Class C Felonies for aggravated assault-adult victim, terrorizing-adult victim, terrorizing-child victim, terrorizing-adult victim, reckless endangerment-extreme indifference-domestic violence, felonious restraint-restrains-adult victim, preventing arrest-felony, interference with telephone during emergency call-intentional; and three Class A Misdemeanors for animal abuse, criminal mischief-willful-tamper-reckless $2,000-$10,000 or intentional $100-$2,000, and criminal mischief-willful-tamper-reckless $2,000-$10,000 or intentional $100-$2,000 after his arrest.

According to documents filed with Northwest Judicial District, on Feb. 28, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of a domestic incident. Officers arrived and found Jane Doe in a vehicle with her two children, Juvenile #1 female (JF) and Juvenile #2 male (JM) fleeing the scene.

Law Enforcement is familiar with Chavez and knows he has been dating Doe since at least Dec. 4, 2022. During the relationship, Chavez has been arrested three other times for domestic violence charges in McKenzie County. Those arrests occurred on Dec.4, 2022, May 10, 2023, and Sept. 21, 2024, of which Doe was the victim. Chavez does have a current bond conditions prohibiting contact with Doe due to an open domestic violence charge from Sept. 21, 2024. He was also trespassed from the property.

Doe claimed that Chavez made forced entry into her apartment and assaulted her. Doe was struck an unknown amount of times on her face and body with open-hand slaps and closed fist punches. Chavez used a belt to attack her, strangled her with his hands, and bashed her head into a door/door frame approximately six times.

Doe claimed that when Chavez was on top of her strangling her, she had her two children in the bed with her; her youngest child was breastfeeding when the assault began. According to Doe, Chavez was on top of the child while he was strangling her.

During the altercation, Doe attempted to call 911 for help, and he took her phone from her to prevent her from calling. He made statements to Doe and JF that he had a gun and he was going to shoot them and kill them. Doe claimed that during the altercation she made several unsuccessful attempts to escape the apartment. Chavez physically prevented her from leaving the residence. She also explained there was a moment when she was near the door and could have escaped with JM, but he positioned himself between doe and JF, blocking JF from leaving with her. While she demanded JF come to her, Chavez told JF that if she moved, he was going to kill her. Due to Chavez’s actions of assaulting Doe and his statements that he was going to kill her and that they were all going to die, Doe felt JF would not be safe if she left.

Doe was able to escape the residence. As Doe was leaving the apartment, Chavez claimed to have a gun and threatened to kill her, leaving Doe in fear for her life. He also made statements that Doe was going to die while he was strangling her.

Doe claimed that he beat her golden retriever dog with a belt several times when he first entered the apartment.
When Chavez barricaded himself in the residence, he placed several items in front of the door. While doing so, he damaged what appeared to be a bookshelf, estimated to be over $100. It is also believed he caused damage to the door when he entered the apartment. He also stabbed a closet door in the west bedroom with a folding knife, causing damage to the door.

After Chavez barricaded himself in the residence, law enforcement made several attempts to have him exit, which he refused. Due to his actions, law enforcement deployed four rounds of chemical agents into the residence. The rounds were shot through two different windows of the apartment, damaging both windows. One round struck a wall in the kitchen, damaging the sheetrock. After the chemical agent entered the residence, it dispersed and contaminated all items.

Doe was transported to the McKenzie County Hospital. Upon examination, it was observed she had injuries to her face and neck.

Law Enforcement contacted Chavez outside of the apartment, he opened the door, saw law enforcement, and slammed the door, he proceeded to barricade the door. Chavez ignored lawful orders and commands from officers and refused to come out of Doe’s apartment. Williams County SWAT was called to the scene, and Chavez was removed from doe’s apartment. SWAT deployed four chemical agent rounds and one flash bang into the residence before Chavez surrendered.

This is an ongoing case, The Farmer will continue to follow and report updates as they become available.

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