A Duluth man who expressed outrage that his teenage daughter was left untreated for hours despite serious injuries from an accident involving a drunken driver is accused of assaulting his daughter and his girlfriend.
Shaun E. Morgan, 37, was arraigned Wednesday in St. Louis County District Court on two counts of misdemeanor domestic assault and terroristic threats. He's charged with assaulting his girlfriend, Amy Boyer, and his daughter, Zadie Morgan, 18.
Zadie Morgan drifted in and out of consciousness after a June 4 vehicle accident in which a Hermantown schoolmate pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol. He drove his SUV into a tree, causing numerous and severe injuries to Morgan, who has considered a career in modeling. The driver called his father for help and neither sought medical attention for Morgan. They took her to her home instead.
Bones in her face were broken. Her nose was hanging by a small amount of flesh still attached to her lower left nostril. She has undergone numerous surgeries.
Her father is accused of hitting her in the face with an open hand in the Sunday night incident.
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According to the criminal complaint:
Deputies arrived at 4409 Sunshine Lake Road about 11:30 p.m. Sunday on a report of a physical domestic dispute. Shaun Morgan was outside the residence holding a club, which appeared to be a tree limb, about 4 feet long and 3 inches in diameter. The deputies ordered him to drop the club. The defendant eventually was cooperative and was handcuffed and searched. He had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath and some of his words were slurred.
Zadie Morgan told deputies that Boyer had picked her up and brought her to a bar where Shaun Morgan was. She said she and Boyer stayed at the bar with the defendant for about an hour, but left without him because he wasn't ready to go.
They went to a friend's house and returned to pick up the defendant. Zadie was driving and her father and Boyer were in the back seat arguing. Zadie reported that she saw her father hit Boyer several times while yelling at her.
Boyer climbed into the front seat, but the defendant started pulling her hair, the complaint alleges. The defendant told his daughter to pull the vehicle over. She complied. The defendant is accused of pushing Boyer and causing her to fall in the ditch on the side of Emerson Road. With Zadie and her father outside the vehicle, Boyer got in and drove away with the defendant's Jeep.
Zadie reported that the defendant started shoving and pushing her. She estimated that she fell to the ground three times while he was shoving her. She said that her father threatened her and called her names. She said he was telling her to hit him. She said he backhanded her with an open hand on her cheekbone just below the eye.
A deputy said Zadie's face was red and photographs were taken. Boyer was observed to have faint bruises on both of her forearms. She said they were caused by the defendant grabbing her and throwing her to the ground.
Zadie said she called a friend to pick up her father and her and drive them back to their residence.
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Back at home, Zadie told deputies that she was scared to be in the house alone with the defendant. She said he was screaming and threatening to kill her if he didn't get his Jeep back. She said he also threatened to kill Boyer and a person only identified by initials and a 1964 birth date.
At some point, the complaint alleges, the defendant punched a wall and apparently broke his hand. Zadie said she tried to calm her father down, telling him that she was trying to get his Jeep back.
Shaun Morgan's cell phone mailbox was full Wednesday and he couldn't be reached for comment. The phone listed for Boyer at the address where deputies responded Sunday night was disconnected Wednesday.
Judge Mark Munger referred Shaun Morgan to an Arrowhead Regional Corrections probation officer for consideration for supervised release. Munger also set bail at $15,000 and ordered that the defendant have no contact with his alleged victims.
Shaun Morgan was still being held in jail Wednesday evening.
The Duluth News Tribune and the Herald are both Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
