Sandusky man indicted on domestic violence-related charges

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky man was recently indicted on multiple domestic violence-related charges, in connection with two separate incidents in July and October.Jesse M. Rankins, 26, faces two counts of endangering children and one count each of domestic violence, aggravated menacing and resisting arrest, according to an indictment filed in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas in November. Because Rankins has four previous domestic violence convictions in Erie County, according to the indictment, the domestic violence charge is filed as a felony.Four charges correspond to an arrest in July, according to the indictment, while the last — one count of endangering children — corresponds to an arrest in October.In July, according to a report filed by Sandusky police, Rankins allegedly assaulted the mother of his infant son while the boy was in her arms. Rankins reportedly became upset when she told him she didn't want the baby to go with him, to spend time with a half-brother, and pushed her into a garage. She told police Rankins then threatened to shoot her.Police noted bruises and scratches on the woman, as well as a visible injury to the back of the baby's head, according to the report.Police later arrested Rankins, who resisted and denied hurting the woman or the boy. Jail records indicate he was released from the Erie County jail approximately four days later.The second incident referenced in the indictment, in October, involved another woman and a year-old child. A Sandusky Police Department report describes a surveillance video in which Rankins is seen trying to pull the woman out of a store, using jerking motions that, when she resisted, caused her to fall to the ground on top of the child.Two people in the store gave police the same account, according to the report. The child was checked out at Firelands Regional Medical Center, where doctors said he appeared to have to have no injuries.Rankins was arrested after the incident, too, and released from custody approximately two weeks later, according to jail records.Rankins, Jesse.