TOOELE — A man who police say is growing more “out of control” has been charged in a domestic violence-related assault.
Michael Collin Gibson, 44, of Tooele, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, a second-degree felony; failing to stop at the command of law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor; domestic violence in the presence of a child, and interfering with an arrest, both class B misdemeanors.
On Wednesday, Tooele police were called to a residence where a woman had been “severely assaulted” by her boyfriend, according to a police affidavit. The first arriving officers observed the woman had fresh bruising and red marks around her eyes, face and neck, and a large “goose egg” on her head, which she said was caused by Gibson “smashing her head into a TV console,” the affidavit states.
As the woman was describing her injuries to an officer, Gibson rushed out from the residence holding a knife, according to the affidavit.
“I drew my service weapon and ordered Mr. Gibson to drop the knife which he failed to do multiple times. I moved the female victim behind me and ordered Mr. Gibson to drop the knife, which he finally complied,” the officer wrote in the affidavit.
Despite dropping the knife, Gibson still resisted arrest, prompting the officer to use his Taser, which was ineffective, according to the affidavit. Gibson eventually surrendered and was taken in custody.
During a follow-up interview with the woman, police feared that “Gibson had also been attempting to use a small torch to burn the female victim. The female victim stated she had been chased around the house while Mr. Gibson burned several items and attempted to burn her,” the affidavit states.
Police noted in their report that another domestic violence case involving Gibson had recently been sent to the Tooele County Attorney’s Office to be screened for possible charges.
“It is the belief of law enforcement that Mr. Gibson has grown more out of control of his emotions and has escalated his level of violence. Mr. Gibson was not suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of today’s incident, it was suspected to be a fit of rage,” according to the affidavit.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA’s Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the confidential statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online at udvc.org.