Jacob Levi Shields

PARKERSBURG — Last week, a Sandyville man was arraigned in Wood County Magistrate Court after he allegedly kidnapped and physically assaulted his girlfriend and threatened to kill everyone inside a residence.

Wednesday, Jacob Levi Shields, 29, 136 Scenic View Ridge, Sandyville, was arrested after law enforcement responded to calls saying he had a gun and was holding people captive inside a residence, according to the criminal complaint.

Officers surrounded the residence and after the victims came out, they located Shields in a sunroom and he was hiding something behind his back, the complaint said. He was ignoring commands from law enforcement and exited through the home through the front door where he was taken into custody, according to the compliant.

Shields’ girlfriend was questioned and she said the incident stemmed about four days prior when Shields found her sleeping and “became irate that she did not wait for him to go to bed for the night,” the compliant said.

For several days, Shields’ girlfriend said he had beaten her multiple times and would not let her leave or sleep. Shields also choked her to the point of unconsciousness earlier in the day, the complaint said.

“(She) stated she was not able to get away from Shields because he had severely beaten her in the past and she did not think she could get away,” the complaint said.

Shields forced his girlfriend to follow him everywhere around the property, according to the complaint.

During the interview with Shields’ girlfriend, law enforcement noticed the following injuries consistent with her statement: a broken nose, broke fingers, faint red markings on her neck, a large, swollen lump above her right eye, ear swelling and bruising along her back, legs, arms and both knees, the complaint said.

Officers spoke with a witness who said Shields became irate when the witness said he was going to call the police. The witness said “Shields them shoved a pistol in (his) face and threatened to kill everyone in the home,” the complaint said.

Shields is being charged with strangulation, kidnapping and wanton endangerment and was being held without bond at North Central Regional Jail.

After an incident on Aug. 3, he was also arraigned in Wood County Magistrate Court for a similar incident with Shields’ girlfriend as the victim that took place in Hancock County, the complaint said.

While staying with Shields for about a week, his girlfriend said he had repeatedly punched her in the head, chest and ribs and had choked her to the point of unconsciousness, the complaint said.

The two were headed into town to have Shields’ car serviced but he had forgotten a tire. After they went back to the residence, Shields asked her to load up the tire, the complaint said.

“(She) advised she had enough and walked to the house with the sheriff’s car in the driveway for help. (She) said she had been wanting to leave Mr. Shields for at least three or four days, however, the opportunity hadn’t presented itself,” the complaint said.

While she spoke to the officers, the victim was seen with several red marks and bruising on her side and hip and her finger was black and blue, the complaint said.

Shields had smashed the ring on her finger and twisted it before it had to be removed with bolt cutters, the complaint said.

For that incident, Shields is being charged with strangulation and third offense domestic battery and was being held on a $30,000 surety bond.

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.