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Benjamin Colton Barnes was unstable and possibly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Nicole Santos of Puyallup alleged in court. She told the court that Barnes, 24, threatened to kill himself on Jan. 1, 2011, and a second time on July 10, 2011.
“Benjamin has many guns and knives in his home,” she wrote in a May petition for a restraining order. “The threats I have received from him and his vindictive personality makes me feel unsafe.”
Santos sought to limit Barnes’ access to their daughter because she alleged Barnes was inattentive, combustible and possibly abusive with the child. She cited a July incident in which the baby fell and hurt her face. Days later, the baby reportedly had bruises in conspicuous places, such as her legs. The mother claimed Barnes would not tell her how the baby fell.
A court-appointed mediator limited his visitation rights in a November decision. The dispute is on track for a January trial, according to court records.
Santos further described Barnes as emotionally abusive in a May filing in which she sought a restraining order. She highlighted arguments that she feared would leave psychological scars on their daughter.
“I am fearful of what Benjamin is capable of with the small arsenal he has in his home and his recent threat of suicide,” Santos wrote in a July court filing.
Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer on Sunday told reporters that Barnes appeared to have military training. Court records are not clear on when or how Barnes served. Santos wrote in a court filing that Barnes deployed to Iraq in 2007-08 and appeared troubled by what he experienced.
Barnes was arrested in March 2009 on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol in King County. At times he was confined to a military base, and a sergeant from Fort Lewis called the court at least once to check on whether Barnes was attending his hearings, according to King County District Court records.
The DUI records also suggest Barnes was passed over for a late 2009 deployment because of the criminal charges. While that case was unfolding, Barnes was in Lakewood Municipal Court for hearings related to January 2009 charges that he hit an unattended vehicle while he was driving under the influence of alcohol.
A 2010 collection notice in Pierce County Superior Court revealed that Barnes was not on active-duty military service in June 2010.
Adam Ashton: 253-597-8646 adam.ashton@thenewstribune.com
Staff writers Debbie Cafazzo and Sean Robinson contributed to this report.
