Fremont man faces evaluation in assault case

A psychiatric evaluation was ordered for a Fremont man accused of kicking out a cruiser window and attacking a deputy in cases in both Dodge County District Court and Dodge County Court Monday.

Joshua Grover, 20, is charged with first-degree domestic assault, a Class III felony; third-degree assault of a peace officer and attempted escape, Class IIIA felonies; two counts of making terroristic threats, Class IV felonies; and intimidation by phone, a Class III misdemeanor.

Grover also is facing a motion to revoke his probation for criminal mischief, a Class IV felony, that resulted from the burning down of a Fremont apartment building.

His court-appointed attorney Pam Hopkins made the motion in Dodge County District Court to determine competency in all cases. She said when she first met Grover, she questioned his competency to assist in his own defense.

Grover’s case in District Court was continued until the evaluation is completed and the arraignment of the new felony charges in Dodge County Court was continued until June 17.

Dodge County deputies were called April 10 to the Paradise Estates trailer park, 925 S. Main St. in Inglewood, on a domestic violence report.

A deputy went to the trailer and contacted the 27-year-old female victim who had a very swollen eye and face and bloody nose, court records stated. At the hospital, a deputy noticed red marks on the victim’s neck and she told the deputy that earlier in the day Grover had sat on her and choked her.

The deputy tried to contact Grover, but he sped away on an ATV and refused to stop. He then returned to the scene and admitted to punching the victim, but then threatened to kill her and her child. The ATV later was determined to have been stolen.

Grover was placed under arrest, and on the way to the jail, kicked out a side window in the cruiser and tried to escape while the cruiser was on the Broad Street viaduct. He also threatened to kill the deputy transporting him when he gets out of jail. He kicked another deputy in the chest when being escorted to the jail.