On January 23 at 3:23 pm Knoxville Police were dispatched to the 300 block of E. Main Street in Knoxville for an domestic abuse assault in progress. Officers arrived at the residence, and were told that the female victim had left and was en route to Pella by an uninvolved third party. Officers were able to find 22-year-old Darren Joseph Versendaal at a residence in Knoxville. Officers questioned Versendaal and he said that it was a verbal argument only. The female party arrived at the Knoxville Police Department later for questioning. The victim stated that earlier in the day Versendaal said while the victim was away from the residence he became upset and struck the victim’s dog so hard that the dog lost consciousness. Versendaal also said that once the dog gained consciousness he struck the dog again so hard that the dog lost consciousness a second time. The victim stated that she was going to attempt to drive Versendaal home but prior to leaving the victim said that Versendaal said that he was going to bash her head in, that she was going to die, and he was going to punch her. The victim said that while driving a verbal argument started and that Versendaal punched her in the right side of the face with a closed fist causing a sharp pain, and her face was tender and sore.

Versendaal has two previous convictions for domestic abuse, one in 2018 in Jasper County and another in 2021 in Polk County. Versendaal was charged with domestic abuse assault third offense a Class D Felony, Harassment First Degree an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and animal abuse an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is innocent until proven guilty