A Rock Springs man was in custody Friday afternoon after a tactical team was sent to his home to respond to a report of a domestic disturbance.
Richard Gamble, 41, was arrested by SWAT officers without incident on Friday on suspicion of multiple charges in connection with a domestic disturbance that occurred overnight, according to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
At around 5 a.m. Friday, sheriff’s deputies responded to Gamble’s residence after his girlfriend, Cindy Liston, 38, also of Rock Springs, called to report that she awoke in the early morning to Gamble allegedly spitting in her face and screaming obscenities at her.
Gamble then retreated to his bedroom, where he retrieved a handgun before returning to the living room. He allegedly pinned Liston to the ground with his knees on her chest, cutting off her airway so she couldn’t breathe.
After Liston broke free, Gamble then retreated to the bedroom again and began grabbing Liston’s clothes, putting them into bags and throwing them around the room, according to reports. He then demanded she leave the home.
According to reports, Gamble also shattered his girlfriend’s cell phone and then went back into the bedroom again with a rubber mat.
He swung the mat toward Liston, hitting a picture on the wall, reports said. The picture frame broke, shattering the glass and peppering Liston with shards.
Gamble then grabbed a piece of glass and began cutting himself.
Liston escaped to the bathroom and locked the door. Gamble then broke into the bathroom by knocking a hole in the door, according to police reports.
While in the bathroom, Gamble allegedly threw blood on Liston from his self-inflicted wound.
After throwing Liston outside of the house and onto the porch, Gamble inadvertently locked both of them out of the house. He then broke through the locked door, armed himself with the handgun and came back outside with the handgun, pointing it at Liston and threatening to kill her if she came back onto the property, reports said.
The woman ran to a neighbor’s house to call police.
On deputies’ arrival, Liston was transported to the hospital where she was treated for the injuries she sustained. Deputies were unable to make contact with Gamble.
Given the severity of the allegations and the involvement of a firearm, the Sweetwater County Joint Tactical Response Team was mobilized in an effort to safely apprehend Gamble at his home.
Gamble has been booked into the Sweetwater County Detention Center where he awaits formal charges and his initial appearance in court.
