Argument leads to car wreck

Three people, including an infant, were uninjured Wednesday when an alleged battery caused a female driver to lose control and clip a utility pole with her vehicle.

Devon Michael Burgess, 18, of Gardnerville, was charged with domestic battery and jailed on $3,000 bail.

Burgess told deputies he and his girlfriend got in an argument because he didn't want her to drive. He said they left the parking lot of the AM-PM Mini-mart in Minden and were headed southbound on Highway 395.

He said he was sitting in the backseat with their baby when she reportedly said something which angered him.

He said he hit her in the head and pulled her hair, according to deputies.

She lost control and the vehicle left the roadway, drove up on the curb and sidewalk and clipped a utility pole.

Deputies said the couple refused treatment and the infant was secure in a child-restraint seat.

-- The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported 40 contacts for domestic violence for a three-week period ending April 24.

That included 14 verbal domestics, one arrest on an outstanding warrant, 12 arrests for domestic battery including three juvenile arrests, 16 referrals to the District Attorney's Office for review or prosecution of temporary protection order violations or for arrest warrants.

Nine juveniles witnessed domestic violence during the time period, one juvenile was a victim, one juvenile was a suspect in a verbal domestic and three juveniles were arrested.

The Family Support Council submitted seven requests to East Fork Justice Court for temporary protection orders with five approvals and two denials.

Five requests were approved for anti-stalking and harassment orders.

Connie Richardson, sheriff's office domestic violence prevention coordinator, said the average range for domestic violence contacts is 12-14 per week for the time period.

The average number of children witnessing domestic violence is 9-11 per week with juvenile suspects at 0-2 per week.