Local Business Owners Charged With Domestic Battery

The incident occurred on Sunday night near Hidden Valley.

Matthew and Patricia Gaustad. Photos by the Dearborn County Sheriff's Office. 

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - A Lawrenceburg couple was arrested following a domestic battery incident in Hidden Valley. 

Dearborn County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the area of Oasis Craft Burgers & Brews on Sunday around 9:04 p.m.

Upon their arrival, Patricia Gaustad was seen with blood running down the side of her face with a laceration above her left eye. Patricia told police that she and her husband, Matthew Gaustad, had got into an argument on their way home from an area brewery. 

The argument allegedly continued outside Oasis Craft Burgers & Brews, the business the two own together. 

According to a probable cause affidavit, Patricia told police that while outside the restaurant, Matthew became verbally abusive and that she hit him on the shoulder, which was followed by Matthew striking her in the face.  

Matthew told a different story, stating that Patricia punched him in the side of the face four or five times, then he back handed her in the face causing a laceration. He added that Patricia hit him in the face another four or five time. After that, police were called. 

Both are charged with Domestic Battery (Class A misdemeanor). 

They have been released from custody on a written promise to appear in court. 

A bench trial has been scheduled for January 7 at 1:30 p.m.