An autistic Weirsdale man who was off his medications punched a deputy multiple times while being arrested for allegedly battering two women, including one over the age of 65, during a violent outburst.
Joshua Lowell Gibbs, 31, was charged with battery on an officer, domestic battery on a person 65 years of age or older, and simple domestic battery after the incident, which happened Wednesday nights. He was also placed under the Baker Act because of multiple suicidal statements he made.
Marion County deputies met with Gibbs outside the residence when they arrived. He refused to talk to them and said the only help he needed was for a deputy to shoot him. He made that request multiple times and continued to say he wouldn’t speak with deputies because they couldn’t help him, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Gibbs turned around and started to walk away from the deputies, who asked him to stop. Gibbs again said they couldn’t help him and continued to walk away. When deputies asked Gibbs again to stop walking, he turned around and started yelling for them to leave him alone. While deputies explained why he couldn’t leave, Gibbs punched one of them multiple times in the face and chest before being subdued and detained, the report said.
The witness who called law enforcement said he, Gibbs and one of the victims were playing cards at the kitchen table. The witness said he started speaking about the news, which made Gibbs upset because he doesn’t like talking about the news. The witness said Gibbs walked into the living room, broke his own cell phone and started throwing things, according to the report.
The witness said the victim tied to calm Gibbs, and he grabbed her by the shirt and started yelling at her. He said the other female victim tried to calm Gibbs and get him to release the first victim, and he pushed her out of the way and punched her before walking outside, the report said.
Both victims confirmed the witness’ account. One of them said Gibbs suffers from autism, sensory integrated dysfunction and obsessive compulsive disorder. She said he was on medication for his mental illness but had not been taking them – by his own decision – since August 2019, according to the report.
Gibbs was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Friday on $3,000 bond. He’s due to appear in Marion County Court on May 26.