Brian Anthony Gausman, 33, of Curwensville has been charged with simple assault; recklessly endangering another person; terroristic threats; disorderly conduct; and harassment. His bail has been set at $25,000 unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 1:28 a.m. Jan. 21, Curwensville Borough police were contacted by Clearfield County Control. The Clearfield Hospital needed to speak with police about an alleged assault.
Police contacted the hospital and a secretary identified the victim and Gausman as being in the emergency room, because of the alleged assault that occurred at their Susquehanna Avenue residence. Police then proceeded to the hospital and spoke to the victim.
The victim told police at approximately 12 a.m. Jan. 21, Gausman came home angry about a prior incident that involved his sister. She said Gausman had either consumed Tequila at his sister’s residence, or en route there. When he arrived home, Gausman allegedly began calling the victim names and threatening to kill her.
At that point, the victim left the residence to put gas in her vehicle and to let Gausman “cool off.” When she returned home, he had left with a bottle of Vodka and walked to a convenience store to call his brother. When Gausman returned home, he allegedly started calling the victim names.
Gausman then allegedly grabbed the victim by the throat and threw her around and onto a chair and eventually the floor. The victim alleged Gausman had both of his hands around the front of her neck, while they were on the floor. Gausman allegedly continued to choke the victim and told her he would punch her face to kill her.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the victim’s dog started attacking Gausman until he let go of her. Gausman began yelling for help, and the victim chained up the dog. The victim noticed Gausman was bleeding from his face and arm due to the dog attack. She drove him to the hospital.
The victim told police she had attempted to call 911 from her cellular phone. However, Gausman took it from her and broke the cellular phone. When asked by police, the victim said she neither lost consciousness nor passed out from Gausman choking her. The victim had small red marks around her neck area.
When interviewed by police, Gausman said he’d gone to his sister’s residence and consumed Tequila. He and his sister engaged in a verbal confrontation. When he returned home, Gausman said he attempted to speak with the victim about the encounter with his sister. He alleged the victim told him that his family was worthless, which angered him.
Gausman said the victim left the residence, and he went to Fuel On. He had taken Vodka with him and met his brother at Fuel On. When he returned home, Gausman said the victim was there, and she became angry. He told police, “everything was wrong, wrong, wrong” in the victim’s eyes. Gausman alleged the victim began “bad-mouthing” his family, and he grabbed her.
Gausman told police that’s when he “just snapped” after hearing her “bad-mouth” his family for approximately five years. He said he’d “had enough.” When asked by police, Gausman said he believed he’d grabbed the victim around her chest and also pushed her onto a chair and then onto the floor. He said at that point, the victim’s dog began attacking him. He stood up and freed himself from the dog, which the victim then chained outside.
Gausman was too intoxicated to provide a written statement to police.
At the hospital, police spoke with a nurse who said Gausman arrived to the emergency room after being attacked by a dog. When asked about the attack, the victim indicated it occurred, as Gausman was assaulting her. When he was asked by the nurse if this was true, she said Gausman laughed and said, “You could call it that.”
A registered nurse assisted and asked Gausman if the dog bite was caused by a physical altercation with his girlfriend. Again, Gausman laughed and said, “If that’s what you want to call it – physical altercation.” He told the RN the dog attacked him when he had the victim on the floor.