By Pat Culverhouse

A verbal altercation early on the morning of Christmas Day became violent and now a Minden man is behind bars, charged with attacking his female companion in the presence of children.

Chief of Police Jared McIver identified the suspect as 32-year-old Mason St. resident Latavion Kardell Seamster. He is charged with domestic abuse battery with child endangerment and strangulation, possession of CDS Sch. II (Ecstasy), and resisting an officer. He is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center under a $35,500 bond.

Minden officers were responding to a domestic dispute call at Hillside Lane Apartments around 6 a.m. Christmas morning when they were informed the altercation had become physical. On their arrival, the alleged victim pointed out the suspect, walking in the complex.

As officers Cadyn O’Conner and Jordon Greer were placing Seamster in custody, a cigaret pack containing 18 Ecstasy pills reportedly was found in his pants pocket. He was transported to police headquarters and booked.

During a follow-up interview with the victim, officers learned the altercation began when Seamster was asked to leave the apartment and refused. When the victim called 911, he allegedly began choking her to the point she could not speak or call out for help. A Minden PD dispatcher told officers she heard the verbal altercation become physical.

Although the victim told officers the altercation was the first between the pair, officers learned Seamster reportedly has an arrest history for domestic abuse battery.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.