Lakeville Woman Accused of Intentionally Ramming Ex-Boyfriend's Car

A Lakeville woman has been charged with criminal damage to property after police say she intentionally smashed her car into her ex-boyfriend’s vehicle in July.

Melinda Starr Bryan, 53, faces a felony charge of first-degree criminal damage to property, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Lakeville police were called to a home on Lynch Avenue on the evening of July 21. The homeowner told police that Bryan, his ex-girlfriend, had hit his vehicle head-on while it was parked at his house.

The victim told police that after Bryan initially hit his car, she backed up toward the house and appeared to be reaching beneath her car seat. Fearing that she was reaching for a weapon, he rammed her car with his, at which point she fled, according to the complaint.

Police spoke to the victim’s son, who said he looked out the basement window after hearing a “commotion” and saw Bryan’s car back up before his father rammed it.

The victim’s son said Bryan had lived with his father for about three years, and that she had moved out a year and a half ago. He said they frequently had “difficulties” with Bryan while she was living with them.

Police learned through “reliable information” that Bryan had gone to her Lakeville home. They followed her and knocked repeatedly on her door, but she refused to answer. When police called her on her cell phone, she answered, but when the caller identified himself as a police officer, she hung up.

The victim sought estimates for the damage done to his car. The first estimate was for $2,132, and the second for $3,907.

Bryan is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charge Oct. 10 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.