Helena-area felony arrests reported Monday, Aug. 19, 2019

A 25-year-old Helena man is accused of kidnapping and strangling a woman.

Gabriel Eugene Bailey is charged with felony counts of partner or family member assault, strangulation, attempted strangulation and kidnapping, along with misdemeanor counts of partner or family member assault and unlawful restraint.

On Aug. 18, a Helena police officer responded to a call about a possible partner or family member assault. A woman told the officer Bailey had pinned her down on a bed, covered her nose and mouth and threatened to hit her. She also accused Bailey of forcefully preventing her from leaving, dragging her back into the home by her hair and covering her nose and mouth again, according to court documents.

A witness heard the sounds of a struggle and the woman calling for help, according to court documents.

Bailey told authorities the fight was mutual. He also said he attacked the woman first and then chased her because he wasn't done fighting, according to court documents.

Bailey was arrested and booked into the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

A 38-year-old Helena man is accused of strangling a woman.

Luke Wayne Guccione is charged with felony counts of partner or family member assault and strangulation of a partner or family member.

On Aug. 18, a Helena police officer responded to a call about a domestic disturbance. A woman told the officer Guccione had thrown food and a bottle of fragrance spray at her earlier in the day, causing her to cry. The woman said Guccione then put his hand over her mouth and stopped her from breathing.

The woman also said Guccione had choked her out a few months earlier, causing her to lose consciousness, according to court documents.

Guccione denied any physical contact between him and the woman, but admitted to having an argument.

Guccione was arrested and taken into custody at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

A 31-year-old Helena woman is accused of endangering two children.

Tawni Lea Twardoski is charged with two counts of felony criminal child endangerment and misdemeanor assault.

On Aug. 16, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper stopped Twardoski for driving on the rims of her car. Two children were in the vehicle with her, and Twardoski appeared to be intoxicated.

Twardoski refused to provide a blood or breath sample and allegedly hit the trooper, according to court documents.

Twardoski was arrested and taken into custody at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A 39-year-old Helena man is accused of strangling a woman.

T.J. Berkopec is charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor partner or family member assault.

On Aug. 18, a Helena police officer responded to a call about a physical fight in a city park. The officer made contact with Berkopec, who appeared intoxicated and agitated. Berkopec admitted to putting his hands around the victim's throat, according to court documents.

The woman said Berkopec had physically assaulted her and strangled her. She had visible injuries around her neck.

Berkopec was arrested and taken into custody at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Aug. 17

• At 2:04 a.m., officers were called to the 100 block of North Last Chance Gulch concerning a possible assault. Officers cited and released a 38-year-old Missoula man, a 21-year-old Townsend woman and a 23-year-old Bozeman man, all for disorderly conduct.

• At 2:35 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of Hauser concerning a disturbance. Officers arrested an 18-year-old Helena man for first offense partner or family member assault. He was booked at the detention center.

On Aug. 18 Helena Police Department officers responded to 66 calls for service, including two traffic crashes, five animal control calls, 10 disorderly conduct or disturbance incidents and six thefts.