BEDFORD — A Bedford man has been arrested and charged with strangulation and domestic battery in the presence of a minor following a physical altercation with his brother at their P Street residence.
Robert Gilbert, 35, was taken into custody on November 4 after officers responded to a reported domestic battery in progress.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer Sarah Haluda, officers arrived at the scene around 7:40 p.m. and found Robert Gilbert loading his children into a vehicle. After ordering Gilbert to step out, Officer Haluda learned the fight was between him and his brother, and had started over a disagreement concerning how a household member’s money should be spent.
Gilbert claimed the fight began after his brother had swung a car seat at him multiple times, leading him to strike his brother with a closed fist. Officer Haluda noted Gilbert appeared agitated, was breathing heavily, and sweating during their conversation.
The victim provided a different account, stating that the argument escalated when Gilbert confronted him about arguing with their mother. The victim claimed that Gilbert “suddenly lunged forward at him and wrapped both of his hands around his throat, strangling him and impairing his ability to breathe.”
After releasing him, Gilbert allegedly re-engaged, pinning the victim to the couch and punching him in the face several times before disengaging again. At that point, the victim admitted to swinging a car seat at Gilbert.
Officer Haluda observed that the victim had visible redness and a clear handprint on his throat, as well as redness and bruising starting to form on his face. The victim indicated to the officer that he was unwilling to physically fight his brother due to the significant difference in their physical sizes.
The victim’s wife confirmed that the couple’s three-year-old daughter had gotten caught in the fight and was struck at some point. While the parents were unable to locate any specific injuries or recall exactly how she was hit, the presence of the minor during the physical domestic battery led to the more serious charge.
Although the victim told Officer Haluda he was not interested in pursuing charges against Gilbert, he was taken into custody due to the severity of the altercation, the strangulation, and the children present in the home.
Gilbert was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing. The mother of Gilbert’s children took custody of them at the scene, and the Department of Child Services was contacted regarding the incident.
The charges are felony-level due to the alleged strangulation and the presence of children during the incident.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
