Domestic violence incident in Fargo leads to felony charges against a 23-year-old man
Fargo, North Dakota – A violent domestic dispute in Fargo has led to multiple felony charges against a young man after police say a woman was attacked, trapped, and injured inside a residence earlier this month. Court records detail a disturbing sequence of events that unfolded behind closed doors and only came to light after emergency technology alerted authorities.
Alleged Assault Inside Fargo Home
Chaise Jonathan Monaghan, 23, was arrested on Jan. 23 at his Fargo residence by members of the Metro Street Crimes Unit. He now faces several serious charges, including aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, felonious restraint, domestic violence causing bodily injury, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to court documents, the incident happened on Jan. 16 inside a Fargo home. Police say Monaghan cornered the victim inside a bathroom and blocked her from leaving, effectively trapping her during the dispute. The victim told officers that Monaghan struck her leg with a metal bar, causing intense pain. She also reported that he headbutted her six to seven times in the face and shoved her repeatedly, which caused her to fall.
That fall played a critical role in alerting authorities. Police say the victim’s Apple Watch detected a hard fall during the incident and automatically activated its emergency SOS feature. Officers later noted that the victim had visible injuries, including bruising on her leg and redness around her neck, consistent with her account of the assault.
Arrest and Prior Record
Police attempted to locate Monaghan at his residence the night the incident was reported, but they were unable to make contact. Officers also learned that Monaghan had an active warrant for failure to appear related to a driving under suspension charge.
Nearly a week later, on Jan. 23, Metro Street Crimes Unit officers returned and successfully arrested Monaghan at his home. During the arrest, officers say Monaghan admitted that he had drug paraphernalia in his jacket pocket. A search reportedly uncovered a glass pipe with residue.
Court records show Monaghan was previously convicted of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia in 2025. Because of that prior conviction, the new paraphernalia charge is being treated as a second offense, adding to the seriousness of the case.
After his arrest, Monaghan was transported to the Cass County Jail. He was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon, where a judge is expected to formally read the charges and address conditions of release.
The case is being prosecuted by the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office. As the legal process moves forward, the allegations paint a troubling picture of violence, confinement, and injury that investigators say left the victim physically hurt and unable to escape until help was triggered automatically.
