A Nebraska man was arrested when his girlfriend requested assistance from a Walmart clerk, claiming that he beat her and blocked her from fleeing.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, authorities responding to an allegation of an assault arrested Justis Barnhouse, 31, at a truck stop on U.S. Highway 77 north of Beatrice, Neb., according to a statement from the Gage County Sheriff’s Office.
Barnhouse’s girlfriend, a 47-year-old woman from Hutchinson, Kan., told police that he strangled her five to six times that afternoon, according to the statement.
PEOPLE is not naming the lady because she is an alleged victim of domestic violence.
The woman also accused Barnhouse of seizing her cellphone, preventing her from contacting law authorities. He also allegedly detained her for two days while she attempted to get her possessions from the camper and return to Kansas, according to the sheriff’s office statement.
The two later visited a Walmart in Beatrice.
At the store, the woman was able to ask an employee to accompany her to the restroom, where she informed the employee about the alleged strangulation that occurred earlier that day.
The employee subsequently reported the incident to the police.
Barnhouse was arrested on accusations of strangling and third-degree domestic abuse, according to the statement.
It was unclear whether he had entered pleas or hired an attorney to speak on his behalf.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
