Enfield Man Facing Charges After Allegedly Assaulting Girlfriend, Trashing House

ENFIELD, CT — A local man with an extensive criminal history was arrested early Thursday morning after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and causing considerable damage to her house and lawn.

David E. Lee, 41, was charged with third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, second-degree breach of peace, second-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree criminal mischief.

Bond was set at $25,000, but judicial records indicate that amount was raised to $75,000, and he remains in custody.

Lee has several other cases pending in court, including possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and first-degree criminal mischief, both felonies. He also has been convicted on seven prior occasions, according to judicial records.

The latest incident took place shortly after midnight Thursday, when police were dispatched to a Green Manorville home for a reported assault. A female showed police blood all over the walls, furniture and ceiling, as well as broken glass, an overturned table and hand rails that had been torn off, Deputy Chief Gary Collins said.

The woman said a verbal argument with her boyfriend, Lee, had turned violent, resulting in him causing damage to the residence. She claims he also grabbed her by the arms, pinned her against a wall and began ripping her clothes off, Collins said.

When Lee left the residence, he drove across the woman's lawn, causing more damage, Collins said.

Officers observed minor injuries and cuts on the woman, and she told them Lee had sustained cuts as well and was bleeding profusely, Collins said.

Police went to Lee's home nearby, but he did not answer the door, necessitating officers to force their way in and take him into custody. He was transported to an area hospital, then returned to the police department for processing.

Among the prison sentences Lee has received for prior convictions are nine months for a second operating-under-the-influence offense in 2005, three years for tampering with a witness in 2009, and eight months for assault, interfering with an officer and cruelty to animals in 2012, according to judicial records.

He is scheduled to return to court Aug. 8.

Photo courtesy of Enfield Police Department