CABELL COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man was arrested Sunday afternoon in Ona following a disturbing domestic violence incident that involved physical assault, threats, and a machete.
Deputies with the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department responded around 3:00 p.m. on April 27 to a home on Blue Sulfur Gardens Road after reports of a domestic disturbance. Prior to arrival, dispatchers advised that the suspect was allegedly threatening to blow up his girlfriend and was seen striking her vehicle with a machete.
When deputies arrived, they encountered the suspect, identified as Robert Joe Bowen, shirtless at his residence. He was immediately detained. A machete was later recovered from inside the home.
The victim was located at a nearby church and met with deputies on scene. Officers observed visible injuries on her, including a staple in her left bicep, bruising on her forehead, scrapes on her arm, and redness around her neck. According to her statement, the altercation began during an argument over medication and escalated violently. She alleged that Bowen choked her, stuck his fingers down her throat, struck her multiple times, headbutted her, and used a staple gun to injure her.
She also reported that Bowen tried to prevent her from leaving by attempting to slash her vehicle’s tires with the machete.
When deputies attempted to arrest Bowen, he refused to comply and had to be physically carried to the police cruiser.
Bowen was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including strangulation, unlawful restraint, brandishing a weapon, domestic assault, domestic battery, and obstructing an officer. The investigation remains ongoing.
