University of Minnesota Professor charged with domestic assault

A University of Minnesota Professor has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend in their home, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday.

Aaron Herbert Doering, 47, was charged with one count of domestic assault by strangulation. Doering, who is a Professor of Learning Technologies, made his first appearance in court this afternoon and bail was set at $30000 without conditions; or $5000 with conditions, which include no contact with victim; no use of alcohol or non-prescribed medication; random testing; no possession of firearms (judge ordered Doering to relinquish all firearms); and domestic abuse no contact order. The judge also ordered Doering to obtain a mental health evaluation.

According to the criminal complaint, on Wednesday, police were called to an apartment in the 1700 block of Madison St. N.E. on the report of a domestic assault-in-progress. When officers approached the apartment, they could hear a man and a woman arguing inside. They knocked on the door, announced their presence and entered the apartment. Once inside, they separated the man, later identified as Doering, and the victim.

Officers determined that Doering and the victim both live at the apartment and are in a romantic relationship. The victim said she had been assaulted by Doering that evening in the course of an argument. She said Doering grabbed her by the hair, dragged her around the apartment and slapped and hit her. She also reported being strangled by Doering, being unable to breathe and feeling like she was going to lose consciousness. She believed Doering would eventually kill her, according to the complaint.

Police saw red marks on the victim’s forehead and bruising in the shape of fingers appearing on the left side of her neck. The victim reported that Doering has assaulted her several times in the past. She showed the officers photos of prior injuries she said Doering had caused. She believes Doering will kill her if he returns to the apartment.

Doering Criminal Complaint (PDF)