By: Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Cushing man, who allegedly told his girlfriend he wanted her to learn self-defense, remains free on $25,000 bail pending an April 5 court appearance on a felony charge accusing him of choking her.
Due to a prior domestic violence conviction, Brandon Leigh Gibbs, 34, could be given a prison term of three to 10 years plus a $20,000 fine if convicted of domestic assault and battery as a second offense.
Cushing Police Officer Cody Carpenter was sent to the Laze L Motel on Main Street in Cushing at 11:38 pm on Feb. 18 after “the reporting party stated they believed a couple was fighting and could hear a female screaming stop,” an affidavit said.
When the officer arrived, Gibbs and his girlfriend were standing around a vehicle parked in front of an open door to a motel room, an affidavit alleged.
Gibbs said they were arguing about a phone, but his girlfriend said “Gibbs was choking her and would not give her her phone back,” the officer’s affidavit alleged.
“Gibbs stated she could not find her phone and believed he took it and hid it either in the room or in his vehicle,” the affidavit alleged.
“While speaking with Gibbs, I noticed he was uneasy on his feet and was slurring his speech. I asked Gibbs how much he had to drink tonight. Gibbs stated a fifth of 70-proof of some liquor,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
A dispatcher advised the officer “Gibbs had a warrant through Muscogee Creek Nation for domestic violence in the presence of a minor,” the affidavit alleged.
After speaking to Gibbs, the officer talked to his girlfriend, who said they were arguing about her phone, the affidavit alleged.
Gibbs’ girlfriend “stated Gibbs then told her he wanted her to know how to defend herself against others. (She) stated she did not want to fight with Gibbs, but he kept telling her he wanted her to learn self-defense.
“(She) stated Gibbs put all of his weight on her throat and held her down. (She) stated Gibbs would choke her until she could not breathe. (She) stated Gibbs would let up on his grip just enough to allow her to breathe, and then continue to choke her.
“(She) stated she was coughing, choking and gasping for air while this was occurring. (She) stated she told Gibbs to stop multiple times,” the affidavit alleged.
The officer wrote in his affidavit, “I observed one long mark on the right side of her neck and several smaller scratches below that mark,” which he documented with photos.
“I observed several open bottles of beer around the room,” the officer added in his affidavit.
After speaking to Gibbs’ girlfriend, “I explained to Gibbs he was being arrested for his Muscogee Creek Nation warrant and domestic violence by strangulation,” the officer wrote in his affidavit.
According to Payne County court records, Gibbs had been placed on one year’s probation in 2013 for two misdemeanor counts of domestic assault and battery in the presence of a child. Gibbs had been placed on five years’ probation in 2008 for possession of marijuana in the presence of a child in 2006 in Stillwater, court records show.
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