Crime & Safety

Lakeville Musician Charged With Assaulting Girlfriend

Bernard Allison, a 47-year-old blues guitarist with more than a dozen albums to his name, was charged with two counts of domestic assault.

The son of a Motown blues guitarist faces a felony charge for allegedly assaulting and strangling his girlfriend after they fought over the music playing on a radio.

Bernard Allison, a 47-year-old Lakeville resident, faces one felony count of domestic assault by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of domestic assault for his alleged role in the incident, which took place on Feb. 11.

Police were initially dispatched to a home in Eagan after receiving reports of a disturbance, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney's Office. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a crying woman who told police that Allison had choked her for approximately one minute until another individual intervened.

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The woman then went to take a shower, at which point police say Allison attempted to force his way into the bathroom, breaking a glass object in the process. The woman told police she called a neighbor for help and left the bathroom once the neighbor arrived. At that point, the woman told police Allison began to yell at her and pull her hair.

Officers investigating the scene noticed red marks on the victim's neck and a broken glass picture frame.

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Police arrested Allison, who allegedly admitted that he got into a verbal argument with the victim over the music playing on the radio, and that he squeezed the victim's neck for approximately 10 seconds.

If convicted on the felony domestic assault charge, Allison could face a maximum of three years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

According to his website, Allison is the son of Luther Allison, a blues artist who signed with Motown Records in 1972 and toured internationally. The younger Allison toured with a band in the 1980s before going solo. He has released over a dozen albums in his career, according to a discography posted on his website.

Bernard Allison pleaded guilty to a prior misdemeanor domestic assault charge in 2002, according to court records.


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