Man Charged With Assaulting Teen During Enfield Domestic Incident

ENFIELD, CT — A verbal argument that escalated into violence ended when an Enfield man was arrested and charged with allegedly assaulting a juvenile Wednesday.

Duane Birks, 44, of 23 Burns Ave., was charged with risk of injury to a child, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and second-degree unlawful restraint.

He was held overnight in lieu of $25,000 bond, and was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Enfield Superior Court.

Deputy Police Chief Gary Collins said the incident began around 2:30 p.m., when a woman said she was having a verbal argument with Birks when he began threatening to strike her.

Birks allegedly threw a cup full of soda and ice at the woman, and when a juvenile sitting on a couch became involved, Birks punched him, threw him on the couch and held him there while continuing to punch him, Collins said.

The woman pulled Birks off the youth, and left the home with two children to call police from a neighbor's, Collins said.

The youth who was assaulted sustained numerous cuts and abrasions to the face, Collins said.

The deputy chief added Birks admitted throwing the soda cup and grabbing and shoving the youth, but denied punching him.

Photo courtesy of Enfield Police Department