Cottage Grove man charged with threatening nephew with a knife

A Cottage Grove man is charged with assault for threatening his nephew with a knife.

Washington County prosecutors charged Ernestine L. Copeland, 49, with felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon following a fight at the man’s home Sept. 2. Police were called to the house on a report of a domestic.

An unidentified victim told police that he got into an argument with his uncle, Copeland, because he said he was moving out. Copeland allegedly grabbed a knife and threatened the nephew, according to the report. During the fight, the nephew was cut on his arm. A witness confirmed the nephew’s account, according to the criminal complaint filed Sept. 4.

Copeland was scheduled to appear in Washington County District Court Wednesday, Sept. 19.

–Scott Wente

Tags: crime and courts, updates, crime