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2010-03-11

2010-03-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Friday, February 05, 2010 11:00 AM

Can men be victims of abuse?

By COURTNEY SERVAES, Herald Staff Writer

Police Chief Dennis Butler says it’s a cultural issue.

Butler, with the Ottawa Police Department, says men are embarrassed to admit to anyone when they’ve been battered by a woman companion.

But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, Butler said.

“Men are less likely to seek assistance from outside sources,” he said.

Recently, Ottawa police officers have received several reports of men being battered by women.

One of the reports involved a 28-year-old Lyndon man who reported he was battered by an ex-girlfriend, reports indicate.

Another recent incident involved a 31-year-old Ottawa man who said he was battered by an 18-year-old Ottawa woman. The woman also reported that she was battered by the man, reports say.

Butler said historically about 85 percent of domestic battery offenses reported to police involve men battering women.

But he said there likely are more victims out there.

“We have found, through blind surveys, that men are less likely to report when they are battered by women,” he said. “It’s really difficult to pin down a number.”

Butler said these domestic violence incidents could involve anyone that the victim has had an intimate relationship with — past or present.

“It could involve spouses, people who used to date, people who have children together,” he said.

Domestic violence cases, depending on the severity, can be considered felonies, Butler said.

“It’s whenever there’s a claim or allegation that one of those people have touched the other one in a rude or angry way,” he said. “In cases when an injury is severe, it could be considered a felony.”

Butler said anyone — men or women — who are battered should contact law enforcement.

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Can men be victims of abuse?

By COURTNEY SERVAES, Herald Staff Writer

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.