Man jailed on assault charge

PALMER -- A Wasilla man was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility last week after allegedly punching his wife during a tussle at the Valley Country Store Motel.

David R. Beach, 41, was charged with fourth-degree assault, driving with a revoked license, and violating a domestic violence restraining order. He was held in lieu of $3,000 bail.

Wasilla police officer Jean Achee responded Wednesday at 1:51 p.m. to a call from a motel clerk who said a woman was being beaten up by a man, charging documents said. The woman ran to the office as the man was leaving in a tan Ford Explorer, Achee said in an affidavit.

Achee approached Beach when he parked at the Cottonwood Creek Mall. When she signaled him to stop, he ran into the mall and kept running as the officer continued shouting for him to stop, charging documents said. The officer apprehended Beach when he reached the end of the building.

He told her that his wife, Brandee Stone-Beach, had hit him on the head, and that he pushed her down on the bed and held her wrists to keep her from hitting him again, charging documents said.

However, Beach's wife said he punched her in the stomach and ribs after they argued, according to charging documents. Beach also grabbed her face with his hands "and she was afraid he was going to choke her," the affidavit said.

Court records show Beach was charged with fourth-degree assault in July and violating a domestic-violence restraining order in August. In addition, he was charged with third-degree assault in May 2002.

Brandee Stone-Beach, 27, was not arrested in connection with Wednesday's scuffle. But Alaska State Troopers arrested her Thursday on an outstanding warrant for an original charge of driving with a revoked license. She was remanded to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $500 bail.