Police say 6-year-old boy tried to stop father from assaulting his mother

Police said a 6-year-old boy tried to stop his father's drunken attack on his mother late Saturday night in Cedar Rapids.

Brian A. Barnard, 35, has been charged with assault causing bodily injury and fourth-degree criminal mischief after the incident around 9:30 p.m. at 515 35th St. NE. He is accused of slapping and trying to choke his wife, Tara Barnard, police said.

According to a police report, Tara Barnard told investigators her husband came home after drinking and started yelling at her. She said he pinned her down, and she tried to bite him in an attempt to get away. The couple's 6-year-old son came into the room and yelled at his father to get off, according to the report.

When Brian Barnard slapped Tara Barnard and tried to choke her, the boy tried to grab at his dad to get him off his mother, police said. Tara Barnard got away to the living room, but was caught and slapped again. She told police she ran into the dining room, where Brian pushed a table at her that broke in half.

Police said Tara Barnard took the 6-year-old and the couple's 1-year-old twin boys out the back door. According to the report, Brian Barnard followed, ripped off a rear porch light and threw it at the car Tara was getting into, causing a rear window to shatter.

Tara Barnard and the children drove to a friend's house where she called police. Brian Barnard was still at the house when police arrived and was taken into custody. He was transported to the Linn County Jail, but was no longer in custody Tuesday.

Tara Barnard was not seriously hurt, police said.

According to online court documents, Barnard was previously charged with domestic abuse after incidents with different woman in 2000 and 2003. He was convicted on the first charge, and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct on the second.

An investigation was continuing.