Holidays Can Bring Domestic Violence
Last updated Sunday, November 25, 2007 4:23 PM CST in News
By Steve Caraway
THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- The holiday season is a time for family togetherness in most homes, but togetherness leads to stress and violence in some families.
On Thanksgiving Day, a Springdale man was arrested in connection with hitting his girlfriend on the throat, according to Police Department records. He blamed her for the ham and dressing not coming out right.
Domestic violence incidents tend to peak during the holidays, said Kathy O'Kelley, Springdale police chief. Families are together more because of time off from work. The extra time spent together can wear on an already strained relationship. Mixing in alcohol can provide the trigger for violence.
The day before Thanksgiving, a drunken man pushed and tried to choke his girlfriend, who was six months' pregnant. When the girlfriend's sister tried to intervene, the man slapped her while pulling her hair. The sister's husband tried to stop the fight, but received a punch to the face.
In another incident, a drunken man punched his girlfriend, saying she was ignoring him. The man locked himself and their 1-year-old child in another apartment until police arrived and arrested him. The girlfriend suffered a cut lip and a chipped tooth.
Sometimes, the stress is caused by not being able to see friends or relatives for celebrations, according to Jeanette Stingley of Bella Online. The Web site covers women's issues.
Women are the principal victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. About 572,000 American women are victims of domestic violence annually, according to the department. About 49,000 men report similar incidents annually.
Police arrested a Springdale woman after an officer saw her punch her grown son in the face twice during an argument in the parking lot. The mother got in the middle of an argument between the son and his wife.
"A lot of the incidents come right before the holiday or right after," said Jeff Harper, Springdale city attorney. "I think it comes from the stress of getting ready or a release from it being over."
Harper tracks Springdale domestic violence arrests throughout the year. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve in 2006, the city averaged about one domestic violence arrest a day. The rest of the year, the rate is about 0.8.
The anticipation of Christmas is highly stressful, Harper said. Money may be short for presents, or the events of the day don't reach the level expected. Bad news coming during the season can trigger an extreme reaction, as in a November arrest in Springdale.
A woman was attacked by her husband in a restaurant parking lot when serving him divorce papers. The woman wanted to meet her husband in public, hoping to avoid a scene. Her mother-in-law pulled her son off his wife to end the attack.
Incidents can be avoided by good communication, according to Stingley, and talking about feelings in a calm manner. If a situation is getting out of hand, leave until tempers calm.
After an incident, seek help, according to Ozark Guidance officials. Do not blame yourself. No one deserves to be beaten, assaulted or intimidated.
The main office at Ozark Guidance can be reached at 750-2020 or (800) 234-7052 toll-free.
Those who allow their feelings to explode could end up like the Springdale man who threatened to kill his wife and mother-in-law with a knife. Before his arrest, he rampaged through his home, smashing furniture and shattering mirrors. Police found their Christmas tree broken, with the base under an entertainment center and the top in a corner.
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BCR wrote on Nov 26, 2007 8:49 AM:
Deacon wrote on Nov 26, 2007 10:25 AM:
Not already registered?
Deacon wrote on Nov 25, 2007 6:35 PM: