A text message to Serbia and a phone call from a Serbian consul general has led to a Long Beach man’s arrest on domestic assault charges involving his wife and his ex-girlfriend, Assistant Police Chief Don Bass said.

A Serbian diplomatic representative had contacted Long Beach police with a welfare concern about the wife of Roger Edward Henry Robertson, but police had been unable to find anyone at home, Bass said. The couple have been living in a condo on the city’s west side.

A consul general called police again Tuesday, Bass said, and reported the woman had sent her mother a text message saying she was being held against her will. Police returned to Robertson’s residence.

“He was reluctant to answer the door,” Bass said, “but we persuaded him to open it. He stated his wife was not home, and we questioned him further and said we knew she was there. He made some phone calls before he opened the door.”

Police found Robertson’s wife inside, Bass said, and discovered his ex-girlfriend, who has a toddler, was asleep in a bedroom where she had barricaded the door by pushing a table against it.

Det. Stephanie Stewart, who specializes in domestic-assault cases, interviewed the women. The wife said her husband had tried to strangle her a few weeks ago, Bass said, and the ex-girlfriend said Robertson also had assaulted her.

“Both females feared for their safety,” Bass said. “He allowed his ex-girlfriend to go to work, but that was it.”

“When people are abused, they often have no place to go. They feel they’re stuck where they are.”

Police arrested Robertson, 49, on charges of aggravated domestic assault and simple domestic assault. The aggravated status falls under a new state law that makes it a felony to try to strangle, choke or suffocate a relative or romantic partner.

Bass said Robertson has prior felony convictions, including an armed robbery in Florida, and numerous arrests in other states.

Bass said Robertson’s wife had come to the U.S. on a student visa before they married. The Serbian consul was making flight arrangements for Robertson’s wife to be returned to her family, Bass said.

Police said his ex-girlfriend also is trying to make arrangements to leave the area.

“I believe we saved the women’s lives,” Bass said.

Harrison County Justice Court Judge Diane Ladner set $250,000 bond on the felony charge.

Municipal Court Judge Brad Rath set bond on the misdemeanor at $10,000.

Robertson was held at the county jail pending court appearances.

By Robin Fitzgerald
January 27, 2011
The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

• A Permanent Economic Emergency