Minnesota House candidate Bradly Gerten pushed his wife to the floor and choked her son to the point that he felt he would black out, prosecutors say.

Gerten, a Burnsville Republican, was charged Tuesday in Dakota County District Court with felony domestic assault by strangulation and misdemeanor domestic assault.

Gerten, 41, was arrested just before midnight Saturday by Inver Grove Heights police.

Burnsville police had been called from Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville at 8:30 p.m. regarding a domestic assault, according to criminal charges. Gerten’s wife went there with her son, whose age is not listed in the criminal complaint.

According to the charges, the son told police he was unloading the dishwasher when Gerten asked him if there was any pizza left. When he said there was not, Gerten came into the kitchen and grabbed and shoved him.

After separating from Gerten, the son said, he checked on his brother, then heard a thud and saw his mother on the floor, according to the complaint. Gerten’s wife told police that she felt pain on her forehead and above her right eye after being pushed by Gerten from behind and falling.

The son and Gerten then fought, the complaint said. The son told police how he was on the couch on his back when Gerten “used one arm and squeezed” around his neck, the complaint read.

While being choked, the son “had a difficult time breathing and he felt like he was going to black out,” the complaint read.

The son told police that he believed Gerten squeezed his neck for about 10 seconds.

The fight ended after Gerten released his grip, according to the complaint.

Gerten on Tuesday had an initial court appearance, where a judge granted his release under several conditions, including that he have no contact with his wife and her son.

Domestic assault by strangulation carries a potential sentence of up to three years or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

According to his campaign website, Gerten is a retired Red Bull soldier who joined the military after graduating from Burnsville High School in 1993. He spent 22 years in active duty and National Guard service, including deployments to Bosnia (2003-04), Iraq ( 2006-07) and Afghanistan (2011-12).

In response to questions from the Pioneer Press about his candidacy for the Minnesota Legislature, Gerten said he worked as a Hennepin County probation officer and was on the Burnsville economic development commission. He has a master’s degree in criminal justice leadership.

He also has served as a hockey referee and baseball and softball umpire for high school and youth sports.

A call to his cellphone after his release from jail Tuesday afternoon went straight to voicemail, and a message seeking comment was not returned.

Christopher Magan contributed to this report.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated Gerten’s role in economic development in Burnsville.

READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT