By Roger Lanse
A Grant County Sheriff's Office deputy was dispatched on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at about 6:53 p.m. to 2 1/2 Shasta Street to a reported domestic disturbance. When deputies arrived they made contact with a 47-year-old female of the address.
According to a GCSO offense report narrative, the female told deputies that she and Zachariah Birnbaum, 31, also of the address, got into an argument. She stated she and Birnbaum had been dating for about a month and he had been staying at the address for a little over a week. During the argument, the narrative said, Birnbaum got on top of the victim and held her down with his forearms. At this time, she stated, her neck was scratched.
The victim continued, saying she was able to retrieve her phone and call 911. Birnbaum then got his stuff and took off, according to the victim, who also said she felt she could have left whenever she wanted to.
The narrative stated when deputies contacted an assistant district attorney to approve charges of false imprisonment against Birnbaum, the ADA said that charge would not be approved since the victim stated she could have left whenever she wanted to. However, an arrest warrant was filed against Birnbaum for battery against a household member.