The Chair of the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors spent Saturday night in Marion County Jail after an incident reported to police over the weekend.

Mark Groenendyk was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault with Injury, first offense. According to court records, on Saturday night, a deputy with the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office was notified by a doctor at the Mahaska Health Emergency Room of a patient wanting to report an assault. The victim alleged that Groenendyk became angry with him, grabbed him, pushed him into a corner, punched him once, and slammed his head against a wall several times. The deputy saw some of the injuries while at the hospital.

Groenendyk was taken into custody early Sunday morning and transported to the Marion County jail, where he was released after an initial appearance Sunday. Mahaska County Attorney Andrew Ritland has filed a motion with the court asking for a special prosecutor in the case, citing a conflict of interest due to Groenendyk’s seat on the County Board of Supervisors.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 17th at 11:45 am.