A 30-year-old Cheyenne man is accused of breaking into the home of his girlfriend’s family, threatening them with a gun, beating her mother, and twice throwing their dog against a wall during an early morning tirade.
Brad Lee Craft made his initial appearance in Laramie County Circuit Court on Friday, charged with two counts of aggravated assault and battery and one of unlawful entry of an occupied structure, all felonies.
His alleged explosion of anger against his girlfriend’s mother frightened her father “to the point that he was shaking,” according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case by a Cheyenne Police Department officer.
Officers arrived less than 10 minutes after the girlfriend’s mother called 911 at 1:05 a.m. on Thursday, the affidavit says. By that time, Craft had left the home, described only as “an address within the city limits of Cheyenne.”
When Craft was found walking away from the scene, he ignored orders by officers and was subdued by a K-9, the affidavit says.
“Craft, believed to still be armed with his firearm, was given several orders by officers to get on the ground,” the document says. “Craft was physically apprehended by a police K-9 and placed under arrest.”
Refusing to make any statements to police, he replied “over there” when asked where his gun was. It was located about 20 yards away from where he was arrested under a tree.
Left, Then Returned
The build-up to the alleged assault on the woman and her former husband, who also lives at the residence, began hours earlier, according to the affidavit.
Craft reportedly was at the home arguing with his girlfriend earlier in the day, “which led to him being asked to leave,” the affidavit says.
He returned after 1 a.m. uninvited and confronted the couple. His girlfriend had since left and wasn’t at the home when he came back.
“Craft suddenly entered the residence through the front door and quickly sat in the living area,” the affidavit says. The mother “approached Craft, who immediately began physically attacking her while holding a firearm in one of his hands.”
As they wrestled over the gun, Craft allegedly “punched her in the face and head numerous times before pushing her to the ground,” the affidavit says. “While on the ground, Craft bit (the woman) on her left arm before breaking away and pointing the firearm at her face.”
That’s when her ex-husband came into the living room and drew Craft’s attention away from his attack on the woman, the document adds. That gave the woman a chance to run to a bedroom and call 911, then retreat into the backyard.
The man told police that he got Craft to calm down some and lower the gun Craft was pointing at him, but then Craft went outside looking for the woman again.
That’s when the man “reported being in fear to the point that he was shaking,” the affidavit says.
Attacked Again
When Craft came through the back door looking for the woman again, she told police that he was holding one of her dogs, along with a gun.
“(The woman) stated she asked Craft for the dog, which he threw against the exterior of the wall twice before physically attacking (her) again,” the affidavit says. “Craft punched her in the face before kicking her and pushing her to the ground.
“While she was on the ground outside, Craft struck (her) in the back of the head several times before he left.”
Court documents don’t say whether the dog was hurt and if so, how badly.
Craft was found a few minutes later by police walking away about four blocks from the home.
Each of the felony charges Craft faces are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If convicted and given consecutive sentences, Craft faces the potential for 30 years behind bars and $30,000 in fines.
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
