Verbal argument over the last beer leads to physical altercation

When a man and a woman disagreed over who would get the last beer, the verbal argument turned into a physical argument and now he’s accused of strangling her.

Michael Lee Gage

Michael Lee Gage, 45, Linton, was arrested by Deputy Marshal Brittney Ingram of the Bloomfield Police Department last night, Thursday, May 28. Gage was booked in around 8:08 p.m. with bond set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed.

Gage was taken into custody on a warrant issued for his arrest as a result of an investigation by Officer Joe Riley of the Linton Police Department into an incident that occurred back in mid-March.

Late on March 17, Officer Riley was dispatched to a residence in Linton where a woman said Gage had battered her and strangled her then left the scene. She didn’t know where he was going when he left.

The woman told Officer Riley she had met Gage a week earlier on Facebook. On the night of March 17, she said they were drinking beer and were running out. A verbal argument started about who got to drink the last beer. She said he got it, but she wanted it, and he wouldn’t give it to her.

According to Officer Riley, the woman said she then grabbed his hat and walked away but he called her a name and when she turned back, he grabbed her throat and began to choke her. She said she couldn’t breathe so she started kicking him until he let go.

Officer Riley reported the woman had a large amount of redness on her neck and chest just below her throat.

Officers attempted to locate Gage then and at times since but were not successful.

Gage is facing a preliminary charge of strangulation, a Level 6 felony.