Lynn man charged with assault of woman, dog

LYNN – A man who allegedly assaulted a pregnant woman and kicked a 15-year-old dog after a dispute over a cell phone bill was held without bail at an emotional arraignment in Lynn District Court Tuesday.Andrew R. Johnson, 23, of 22 Warren St., #7, was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a pregnant victim and animal cruelty on Monday at 5:50 a.m., according to court documents. Judge Ellen Flatley ordered Johnson held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday. The judge also granted the alleged victim in the incident a restraining order against Johnson.According to a report by Lynn Police Officer Rudy Ramirez, police responded to an Estes Street residence where a woman said she had confronted Johnson and her daughter about returning a cell phone. A witness supported this claim.”(The complainants) reported that (Johnson) ? had ‘racked’ up their cell phone bill and that they did not want them using it anymore,” the report states. (Johnson) became upset and yelled something to the effect of ‘(Expletive), I’m not paying you, old man,’ ” the report notes.Then the dog – identified as a 15-year-old miniature pinscher named Max – began barking.”Max began barking at (Johnson), at which point he kicked this dog in the face and slid it across the room,” the report said.Johnson then allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old pregnant woman at the home, according to the report. The report noted the victim told police that Johnson knew she was pregnant and the victim had marks on her face and neck where she had been struck. Police responding to unrelated call found Johnson and placed him under arrest shortly after the incident.The alleged victim and her mother recounted the incident at the arraignment hearing Tuesday afternoon, the latter beginning to cry as she described the events. The alleged victim said she was two-months pregnant.Johnson and four women – one of whom identified herself as his mother – were similarly emotional. Johnson only spoke once during the arraignment, answering weakly and hesitantly when he said he would not testify against the alleged victims in their request for a restraining order. One of the women began crying aloud several times throughout the day while waiting for Johnson’s case to be called, provoking the attention of the court officers.Shouts erupted at one point before the hearing as the group exited the room, and court officers kept the alleged victims and the women separated on opposite sides of the courtroom and after the hearing.Lisa Qualls, who identified herself as Johnson’s mother, declined to comment on the specifics of the case but said after the hearing that it was wrong that domestic violence laws were more punitive to men than to women.”Domestic violence can be both ways,” she said.Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected]