Joplin man charged with domestic assault, claims girlfriend attacked him with frying pan

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney filed felony second-degree domestic assault charges today against a Joplin man who allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face several times.

Bond has been set at $50,000 surety or $7,500 cash for Colt Devin Griggs (DOB 1996), who is being held in the Joplin City Jail.

From the probable cause statement:

On March 18, 2025, the Joplin Police Department was dispatched to a residence in Joplin, Missouri, Jasper County, in reference to domestic violence. 

Upon arrival, the Victim was contacted, who advised that her boyfriend, Colt Griggs, had assaulted several times that day. 

In one event, the Victim reported that Griggs punched her in the face with closed fist, causing her to grab a cast iron pan to defend herself with. Griggs then punched her three to four more times with a closed fist in the head. 

Later that day, Griggs grabbed the Victim by the throat, squeezing it, making it difficult for her to breathe. 

Griggs was contacted and called out of a camper located to the east of the residence and arrested.

 During transport Griggs made spontaneous utterance that he was assaulted with a frying pan. No injuries were observed on Griggs that supported this claim.

The case was investigated by the Joplin Police Department.