A 42-year-old Casper man faces charges that could send him to prison for more than 20 years for allegedly breaking the door down of his ex-girlfriend’s house, grabbing her by the throat, strangling her to unconsciousness, and trashing her house.
Kyle David Rasmussen is charged with unlawful entry into an occupied structure, strangulation of a household member, domestic battery, property destruction and defacement, and interference with emergency calls.
Court documents state his actions followed her refusal over the phone to give him a ride to the Wyoming Rescue Mission early Friday.
Mills Police responded to a residence about 4:30 a.m. Friday and found a woman who was bleeding from her mouth and lip, had red marks around her neck, and red eyes, a police affidavit states.
The woman told police Rasmussen is her ex-boyfriend and called her at 1 a.m. Friday and asked for a ride to the Wyoming Rescue Mission. She declined, the affidavit states.
At 3:30 a.m., she told police she was watching TV and saw him outside a window of her residence.
“She went to the door to shut it and attempted to shut it and lock it. At that moment (Rasmussen) had kicked open the door, busting it open and had grabbed her by the throat,” the affidavit states. “He then pushed her against the wall, putting a hole in it and began strangling her bringing her to the ground.”
Knee On Neck
The affidavit states Rasmussen put his knee on her neck while strangling her, and she passed out for 30 to 60 seconds.
The woman told police that when she regained consciousness Rasmussen was kicking her in the ribs and face.
“During the attack, he stated several times he would kill her and also put holes in the entryway,” the affidavit states. “He also knocked the thermostat off the wall … she then stated that she would take him to the mission and begged him to stop and he finally did. He then kicked the TV, knocking it back and breaking it.”
The affidavit states the woman went into her bedroom and Rasmussen followed her, punched a lamp and sending glass shards across the bedroom. When she tried to call 911, he took her phone and would not give it back until she agreed to take him to the rescue mission.
After taking him, the woman called 911.
The affidavit states a Mills police officer found the front door cracked in half and bent inward with multiple holes in the walls near the main entry of the home. The TV was on its side leaning backward on a stand.
The officer observed several cracks “as well as one distinct half-shoe print with a linear cross-like sole design that had been in dirt” on the TV screen. The shade of a lamp was crushed and its light bulb shattered, the affidavit states.
A photo of Rasmussen’s shoe showed tread that matched the print on the TV screen, the affidavit states. He was arrested at the mission.
The woman was examined by EMS medical personnel but refused to be taken to the hospital.
“She had also stated that (Rasmussen) had hurt and strangled her several times in the past as well while they were dating,” the affidavit states.
The unlawful entry into an occupied structure and strangulation of a household member charges both carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The domestic battery, property destruction and defacement, and interference with emergency calls charges each carry potential penalties of six months in jail and fines of up to $750.
Rasmussen remained in jaild Tuesday morning under a $25,000 cash or surety bond.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
