BELLE — Joseph L. Thompson 36, of Belle, may face several charges after allegedly beating up his wife and sister Saturday, and starting a fire that destroyed a trailer, which killed two dogs …
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BELLE — Joseph L. Thompson 36, of Belle, may face several charges after allegedly beating up his wife and sister Saturday, and starting a fire that destroyed a trailer, which killed two dogs trapped within the structure.
According to a probable cause statement by Deputy Jacob Cottingham, he arrived at the residence on CR 715 at 1 p.m. to find Kristina Haeusser, the defendant’s wife, bruised and in tears following the altercation. She told Cottingham that Joseph Thompson attempted to take her phone and push her out of a chair. When the defendant’s sister, Karen Thompson, attempted to intervene, she was struck in the face approximately 20 times by the defendant with a closed fist. Joseph Thompson then dragged his sister into the kitchen by her hair while kicking her in the ribs several times.
Haeusser reported that while Joseph Thompson was over the top of Karen Thompson and striking her, she was able to get the defendant off of her, and the women retreated to the bathroom.
On the way, Joseph Thompson reportedly struck his wife in the back of the head, causing her to fall through the shower door. When Haeusser got out of the tub, she found Karen Thompson lying bloodied on the living room floor, and the defendant was gone.
Haeusser told Deputy Cottingham that Joseph Thompson returned to the scene of the assault and said he had burned down their mobile home. As he was walking away, he allegedly kicked Karen Thompson in the ribs as she was lying on the floor.
Cottingham noted in his report that upon his arrival to the scene, he saw a smoldering mobile home that was being extinguished by the Belle Fire Protection District.
Karen Thompson, the defendant’s sister, said she owned the mobile home, and allowed her brother and Haeusser to live there.
Haeusser was transported by ambulance to an area hospital.
During the fire investigation, it was learned that two dogs had been left in the mobile home, and perished as a result of the fire.
Joseph Thompson may face two counts of assault, arson and animal abuse. He was booked and released pending charges.
