Moorcroft man arrested for strangulation and assault

Patrick LeFave of Moorcroft faces felony charges of strangulation and assault following an alleged incident in which he physically attacked a female victim who then locked herself in a room to contact law enforcement.

A Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to a residence in Moorcroft on March 27 at around 10:51 a.m. to respond to a report of a domestic issue. The call to 911 had been placed by a female who claimed she had been physically assaulted by LeFave.

The caller allegedly stated that LeFave had grabbed her by the neck and pushed her backwards and, at the time of the call, was attempting to force his way into the room where she had barricaded herself inside.

The deputy arrived shortly after two Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers, who had placed LeFave in handcuffs on the front porch. According to the affidavit of one trooper, LeFave answered the door after several attempts but resisted attempts to place him in handcuffs, causing a brief struggle between himself and the trooper.

LeFave allegedly claimed that he and the female victim had been arguing that day. The victim concurred, according to the deputy’s report, stating that the argument had begun in the early hours of the morning and started again at around 10:30 a.m.

She claimed LeFave had slammed her against a dryer and hit her on the right side of her face and that she had locked herself in a room to call 911. Earlier in the day, the victim further claimed that LeFave had verbally threatened to attack her with a knife.

LeFave was transported by the deputy to the Crook County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. He has been charged with felony counts of strangulation of a household member and aggravated assault and battery as well as misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and interference with a police officer.