Falls of Rough man suspected in multiple burglaries arrested after assaulting his wife, barricading himself in residence

steven-phelps-03-19
steven-phelps-03-19

On Sunday night at approximately 7:30, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Falls of Rough man suspected in several burglaries in the Indian Valley community.

Sgt. Fred Norder and Deputy Mark Newman arrested 39-year old Steven J. Phelps and charged him with second-degree assault, second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief. He was also served with an outstanding warrant for theft by unlawful taking, under $500.

While Phelps is wanted for questioning regarding multiple burglaries, he was captured Sunday night after barricading himself in an empty home after allegedly assaulting his wife.

According to Phelps’ arrest citation, during the assault he “grabbed her around her throat and began choking her.” The victim claims she never lost consciousness during the attack but that her extremities began experiencing a “tingling sensation in her limbs.” The victim also told police that Phelps struck her with a closed fist several times.

Deputies noted that the victim displayed “facial bruising, redness to her neck and a swollen right ankle,” according to the citation.

Norder and Newman originally arrived at the Pawnee Trace residence to serve Phelps with a warrant related to the assault of his wife, but upon arriving, they spotted Phelps trespassing in a nearby residence. According to Sheriff Norman Chaffins, deputies had to make forcible entry into the home at gunpoint because Phelps had screwed the door to the door frame. He was arrested without further incident and lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.

“We expect the number of complaints and thefts in the Indian Valley area to decrease while Phelps remains incarcerated,” Sheriff Norman Chaffins said about the suspect’s arrest.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000