OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A second incident involving alcohol and violence has surfaced in the background of the Army staff sergeant suspected of killing 17 Afghan villagers.
A sheriff’s department report released Thursday says Robert Bales was accused in 2008 in Washington state of shaking hands with a woman, pulling her hand into his crotch and then punching and kicking her boyfriend. It describes Bales as “extremely intoxicated.”
Authorities say the case was referred to prosecutors who then did not file charges. A message seeking comment from Bales’ attorney was not immediately returned.
Bales was arrested in 2002 for the drunken assault of a casino security guard. He completed anger management class in that case.
