Man arrested for assaults on girlfriend

BLACK CANYON CITY, Ariz. - A 21-year-old Black Canyon City man has been arrested a month after he was first accused of assaulting his girlfriend and ransacking her home.

Andrew Mathieson was taken into custody December 1 while hiding under a sleeping bag in the home where the assault occurred.

According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, on November 3 deputies responded to a call of domestic violence at a home in the 33000 block of Gala Lane where they learned the 23-year-old victim had been assaulted by her boyfriend the day before.

She was bruised around her head, eyes, arm and elbow, according to a report.

The suspect, identified as Mathieson, had taken the victim's vehicle and left the area after ransacking her home and tying her feet together to keep her from leaving.

The victim was taken to another location where she could stay.

The next day Mathieson reportedly returned the victim's vehicle and fled before deputies could arrive to question him.

On November 21 deputies contacted the victim at her home for follow-up and learned Mathieson had assaulted her again on November 11 when she was punched in the eye.

Then on November 30 around 8 p.m. deputies responded to a store regarding an assault and kidnapping where witnesses reported the victim had been assaulted by Mathieson and forced to leave with him in her vehicle.

A statewide bulletin was sent out to locate Mathieson and within the hour the victim returned home on her own. Mathieson was not located at that time.

Deputies got a call on December 1 with a tip regarding Mathieson's whereabouts and found him hiding under a sleeping bag in the Gala Lane home.

Mathieson was booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including aggravated assault per domestic violence, assault per domestic violence, kidnapping per domestic violence, criminal damage, disorderly conduct and vehicle theft.

He remains in custody on an $11,000 bond and several outstanding drug warrants.

Authorities say the arrest stopped a cycle of violence against the victim.