Oak Harbor man accused of assaulting wife, neighbor

A 53-year-old Oak Harbor resident is accused of assaulting his wife and then attacking a neighbor who came to help the woman, court documents state.

Prosecutors charged Michael Monschau in Island County Superior Court July 14 with assault in the second degree, assault in the fourth degree (domestic violence) and unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to a deputy’s report on the incident, Monschau’s wife claimed he went out drinking at a bar on July 11 and became violent when he returned to his Cranberry Drive residence. His wife claimed that he started throwing things at her while she was on the balcony and she yelled for help.

A 66-year-old neighbor climbed up the balcony to help the woman, but he was allegedly attacked by Monschau. The man claimed Monschau hit him with a stick and then a shovel, which knocked him off the balcony, the police report states.

The neighbor hurt his hip in the fall, which immobilized him. Monschau allegedly got on top of him in the grass and choked him, the man reported to investigators.

Monschau told a much different story. In an interview with a deputy, he claimed he was sitting on his balcony, minding his own business and not drinking, when the neighbor climbed up the stairs. He claimed the neighbor announced that he “always wanted to do this” and tried to scratch Monschau’s eyes out.

Monschau claimed he and his neighbor scuffled and they both fell off the balcony, the deputy’s report states.

An investigator found a 30-30 rifle at Monschau’s home. He isn’t allowed to possess a gun because he has a previous domestic violence conviction, court documents show.

 

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

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