By Joe Johnson
A Baldwin County man was arrested Tuesday morning after he allegedly assaulted his spouse at her mother’s home in Athens and then kidnapped her.
This incident report was not available Wednesday, but according to Athens-Clarke County police Public Information Officer Lt. Shaun Barnett, the incident began at the home of the 43-year-old victim’s mother on Sandy Springs Drive.
He said that Travis Marvin Burbage, 40, of Milledgeville began cursing at the woman, who is referred to in a police report as Burbage’s spouse, and called her vulgar names.”
Barnett said, “The victim stated that Burbage grabbed her by the shirt, dragged her around the house, and stomped on her hand, causing broken bones in the hand.”
He then forced the victim into her own car against her will and drove to Madison County where, in the area of Bell Haven Road, the victim was able to escape and run to a gas station where a witness called 911 Barnett said.
Madison County deputies responded and when they realized that a criminal act had also happened in Athens, they notified ACCPD, according to Barnett.
Deputies located the victim's car and Burbage at the Valero Gas station on U.S. Highway 29 North and the suspect was taken into custody without incident, Barnett said.
Based on the events that happened on Sandy Springs Road, ACCPD charged Burbage with kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated battery, battery, robbery and motor vehicle theft, all under the state Family Violence Act.
He was also charged with a probation that stemmed from a 2019 conviction in Athens-Clarke County on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges stemmed from another family violence incident with a different victim in which Burbage threatened the victim with a shotgun and a knife, according to court records.
“The victim (on Tuesday) reported that she was taken from Milledgeville, where she has a different address than Burbage, and brought to the Sandy Springs residence against her will,” according to Barnett.
The ACCPD spokesman said he was not sure if Burbage faced charges in Milledgeville or Madison County.
The suspect was denied bond Wednesday morning by a Magistrate Court judge and he is being detained at the ACC Jail.