Alva Review-Courier -

A Woodward man is in custody after an Alva woman said he struck her about the head ten times and then chased her down the street because she returned to the house without beer.

Court records show on Sunday, May 23, at 3:03 a.m., Alva Police Officer John Caviness received a call to 702 Park Street about a domestic battery in progress. Upon arrival at the address, Caviness contacted the reporting party Gabrielle Ruble. She said Malcolm Graves had willfully and unlawfully used physical force and violence against her. Caviness observed Ruble had bruises on her body. He also learned from Ruble that Graves had stated if law enforcement arrived regarding this incident that he was prepared to become physically combative with law enforcement.

Woods County Deputy David Cummings arrived on the scene to assist. They learned from Ruble that Graves had gone back inside his residence. The officers made contact with Graves through an open doorway of the residence he shared with Ruble. Caviness observed Graves’ behavior to be erratic and noted he was agitated.

Caviness explained why officers were there. Graves adamantly denied any involvement in a domestic disturbance. While speaking with Graves, Caviness observed an overturned table in the living room area and other damaged property inside the residence. Graves stated he was not coming out of his residence to speak with law enforcement.

As Caviness spoke with him, Graves became increasingly aggravated and uncooperative, according to the affidavit on file. Graves began to move to go back into his house. Alarmed that he could be accessing a weapon, Caviness followed him inside, and a physical altercation ensued. Graves was taken into custody and informed he was being charged with domestic battery.

While being escorted from the residence, Graves shouted to Ruble, “Do not testify.” He then said, “Please come down to the station and bail me out.” While traveling to the Wood County Jail, Graves stated, “I cannot go to jail; I am on probation,” according to the affidavit.

While at the Woods County Jail, Caviness learned that Graves has two domestic battery convictions in Woodward County and has been placed on eight years’ probation. After securing Graves into custody at the jail, Caviness returned to Park St. to speak further with Ruble.

Ruble told Caviness that she and Graves began arguing at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, and during the day the arguments intensified. She said at 2 a.m. on Sunday after Graves had consumed a fifth of Kentucky Deluxe bourbon, he told her to go get him some beer at a convenience store. Ruble said she left to get the beer but realized she did not have her debit card and returned.

When she returned, Ruble said, she was met by Graves who became upset because she did not have the beer. She said Graves became physically violent and punched her ten times with a closed fist in the top, back and side of her head.

Caviness asked Ruble if she wanted medical assistance, and she declined. She asked if Graves had fought with law enforcement, and Caviness told her there was a physical altercation. She responded by saying, “He told me he was going to.”

Ruble said just prior to law enforcement arrive, Graves had chased her down Church St. and grabbed her hair causing her to fall onto the ground. She said she had abrasions on her right arm, her neck and collarbone. Ruble stated she had been in fear of Graves since December 2020. She said on May 23, Graves informed her multiple times that he was going to beat her a—, according to the affidavit.

Ruble told Caviness that when she dialed “911” and requested law enforcement, Graves stated to her he did not care who was coming, he was not going down without a fight and said, “I bet I win.” Ruble said Graves had texted his mother at 9 p.m. on Saturday that he was about to “end” Ruble and was not going down without a fight.

In speaking with Ruble, Caviness learned that Graves has been medically diagnosed with anxiety, paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar with explosion disorder. She said he is seeking mental health counseling in Woodward and is taking numerous medications.

Caviness gave Ruble information on services provided to victims of domestic violence and completed a lethality assessment. Ruble had a very high lethality score, and Caviness had her contact a domestic violence advocate and speak with them.

On May 25 in Woods County, Malcolm Lee Graves, Jr., 31, of Woodward, was charged with two felony counts of domestic abuse with prior pattern of physical abuse. Each count is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not more than ten years or by a fine not exceeding $5,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment. His bond has been set at $5,000.

On May 26, Gabrielle M. Ruble filed an emergency protective order against Graves.