A Northwood man was sentenced to one year in the Freeborn County jail this week for hitting his girlfriend while in Albert Lea’s Hy-Vee and then assaulting others who tried to step in.

Phillip Patrick Drozda, 40, was convicted Monday of felony domestic assault, gross misdemeanor fifth-degree assault and felony fourth-degree assault of a police officer.

He has been in jail since the April 6 incident, which began at Hy-Vee and ended in the parking lot near Shoe Sensation.

Court documents state one witness told police he had heard Drozda arguing at the service counter with his girlfriend and saw him hit the woman in the face with his left hand.

Drozda then left the store, got into a gold-colored Pontiac Grand Prix, drove out of the parking lot and then up the front of the entrance. He reportedly spun his tires and took off forward as the girlfriend tried to get in the car.

After doing this several times, Drozda got out of the car and his girlfriend sat down in the driver’s seat, according to the witness. The witness said Drozda hit the woman several more times.

Meanwhile, another witness who was with her husband and granddaughter said her husband tried to help restrain Drozda, but while doing so Drozda pushed him and their granddaughter to the ground and began kicking her husband.

The woman tried to step in and pushed Drozda, but the man reportedly pushed her back and punched her in the face.

Drozda ultimately fled by foot southward into the parking lot of Northbridge Mall toward Shoe Sensation, where an officer found him. He spit in the face of a paramedic and kicked an officer multiple times.

When asked by Freeborn County District Judge Ross Leuning if he had anything he wanted to say before sentencing, Drozda apologized for his actions.

“I didn’t really mean to do what I did that day,” he said.

He smelled of alcohol when he was arrested, according to court documents.

Leuning said Drozda will receive credit for already spending 123 days in the jail since the incident.

In addition to the jail time, Drozda will spend up to five years on probation when he is released from jail. If he violates his probation, he could face up to 21 months in prison.

Leuning ordered Drozda write a letter of apology to each victim in the incident, not have contact with any of the victims, complete an anger management course, pay about $500 in restitution and complete both a chemical assessment and mental health evaluation. He must also provide a DNA sample and not have any alcohol or controlled substances.

He will also not be allowed to use or possess a firearm.

The sentences for his three charges will be served concurrently.