Two accused of beating woman with shoes, fists

Police say three people are facing assault charges after ganging up on a woman and beating her with fists and shoes early Sunday morning, after she attended an after-hours party at the female subjects' residence.

Officers said they were called to 1506 Tofting Ave., the home of Michelle L.G. Brenneman and Brittney A. Armstrong, where they could hear screaming and yelling from the street. Upon entering, blood was found smeared along the walls and floor, they said.

Police said they located the victim sitting in a vehicle outside who told an officer that Brenneman, 28, and 22-year-old Armstrong attacked her. According to police reports, Brenneman struck her in the face, knocking her to the ground, additionally asking her roommate and Robert D. Gathright, 35, to help her continue the assault.

Several witnesses observed Gathright hold the woman down, cursing at the other women to keep beating her, while Brenneman and Armstrong punched her and struck her with shoes multiple times in her face and chest, police said.

When the victim attempted to crawl away from the attack, she told police she was shoved into a large exterior glass door, shattering it on impact, police said.

She required medical treatment on scene and in the midst of the scuffle Armstrong suffered from facial injuries, police said.

Reports indicate while police tried to maintain order and question witnesses, all three subjects interfered with their investigation. Gathright, of 904 Benton Dr. No. 12, had to be physically moved after he stepped in front of a closed door they were approaching, they said. Armstrong also had to be removed from the scene for interrupting the investigation.

They are charged with assault causing bodily injury, simple misdemeanors. Armstrong and Gathright are also charged with interference with official acts, simple misdemeanors. Brenneman is charged with keeping a disorderly house.

All three are currently being held at the Johnson County Jail on $10,000 cash bond each for the assault charges. An additional $320 bond has been set  for Brenneman's second charge, and additional $650 bonds have been set for each of Armstrong and Gathright's interference charges.