State rep arrested in dispute

State representative and county commissioner candidate Rick Maedje of Fortine is facing misdemeanor domestic violence charges following an altercation Tuesday night with his live-in girlfriend.

After spending the night in jail, Maedje appeared before Justice of the Peace Gary Hicks Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to partner/family member assault. Maedje indicated plans to retain an attorney and was released on his own recognizance with a stipulation that he not have contact with the alleged victim.

According to an affidavit filed by arresting officer Sgt. Steve Short of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Maedje's girlfriend, Kathy Wade, called the Eureka dispatch office around 11 p.m. and reported that Maedje had shoved her into a refrigerator. Short responded and spoke to Maedje, who told him that he and Wade had been arguing and that Wade had gone into the bathroom and "came out with an injury to her cheek and said that he was through and that he was in big trouble," the affidavit continued. "Maedje further disclosed that there was not anything physical between them."

Short reported that he had spoken with Wade, who said that she and Maedje had been in an argument and that he had pushed her, causing her to hit the refrigerator with her cheek and then fall to the floor. Short noted that the mark on Wade's cheek was consistent with the kind of injury that could have been caused by the refrigerator door handle and that the handle was at the right height to have caused the injury.

Short wrote in the affidavit that when he told Wade he was going to arrest Maedje, she responded, "No, no, no, he's going to kill me. Please don't arrest him." Short told Wade he had no choice but to arrest Maedje.

Maedje, 43, has served two terms as state representative for House District 2. He is currently running as a Republican candidate for Lincoln County commissioner.