http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/police/stories/03022006Cops.html

LONGVIEW NEWS-JOURNAL

Thursday, March 02, 2006

- Benjamin Barrington Johnson, 24, of Longview was arrested Tuesday, charged

with assault causing bodily injury to a family member. The charge was

enhanced to a felony because of prior assault causing bodily injury to a

family member offenses. Johnson and his live-in girlfriend argued, and

Johnson got angry with the woman and hit her, an arrest report said.

Johnson's girlfriend of six years told police she asked Johnson to turn down

the stereo because their neighbors were complaining about the loud noise.

The two began to argue, and the argument escalated. The woman said Johnson

hit her several times, and she hit him also, in self defense. When officers

arrived, Johnson would not open the door, and he would not let his

girlfriend open the door either, the report said.

When the door was opened, police saw that the woman's face was swollen on the left side and her clothes were torn, the report said. Johnson was arrested at about 11:30 a.m.

He is being held on a bond of $5,000.