Child witnesses domestic fight; father detained after choking mom

MITCHELL – A Mitchell man is facing felony charges of domestic battery in the presence of a child and strangulation after Mitchell Police officers were requested by Lawrence County Probation to respond to a residence in the 100 block of Dale Stree on Friday, May 3, 2024.

Seth Flynn

Police detained 33-year-old Seth Flynn.

According to Mitchell Police Officer Kuhlman, when police arrived, they learned Flynn was on probation, and probation officers visited his home. After leaving Flynn’s home a text was received stating the officers should check on “someone” for drinking. They returned to the Dale Street residence and could not locate Flynn or his vehicle.

They spoke to Flynn’s wife, who had visible marks on her neck that were from a physical altercation with Flynn. The marks were not there when probation officers visited the home earlier. The incident took place in front of the couple’s children.

The woman said she and Flynn had “a little bit of a tussle” and that she had been choked by Flynn before and that after the dispute, Flynn left in a black Ford Explorer.

Officers tracked Flynn through his cell phone and found the vehicle parked in the backyard on the east side of the home. Flynn was in the passenger seat. They asked him to step out of the vehicle and detained him.

Fynn denied hurting the woman. He did admit he had been drinking, saying, “slamming one shot awhile ago”. He then revealed the two had been arguing about going to marriage counseling. Flynn had several cuts on his face, and when asked how he was injured, he stated he had scratched himself.

A daughter reported she saw “dad pushing her (mom) and hitting her. She stated she saw Flynn “push her into the shower and grabbed her by the neck”.

The woman refused to sign a battery affidavit but did request a no-contact order.

The Department of Child Services was also alerted.

Flynn was transported to jail.