Tomahawk man charged with striking girlfriend with pickup truck

A cash bond of $100,000 has been set for a Tomahawk man alleged to have struck his girlfriend with a pickup truck.

Robert Richard Cookson, 59, was arrested April 21 in the town of Little Rice.

According to the supplemental reports submitted with the criminal complaint to the Oneida County district attorney’s office by the sheriff’s office, the woman reported that after she and Cookson had argued about cats, she and her 3-year-old grandson left the house and drove away.

Cookson also drove away and the woman later located him in his parked vehicle.

After she got out to check on him, he’s alleged to have sped off, pinning her between the two vehicles as he left. 

She was able to call 911 with her grandson’s help and was subsequently airlifted out of Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

“Grandpa took out Grandma,” the grandson reportedly told the deputy who arrived on the scene.

Cookson was taken into custody after a traffic stop at which he asked law enforcement to shoot him. A Bersa Thunder .380 pistol with no ammunition inside was found in the vehicle. One .380 round was in Cookson’s pocket.

In charges filed May 1, he faces one count each of hit and run causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery with the intent to do bodily harm — both class E felonies — and one count of carrying a concealed weapon, a class A misdemeanor.

If convicted, he faces total fines of up to $110,000, imprisonment for up to 30 years nine months, or both.

A court date of May 18 has been set.

Ardith Carlton may be reached at [email protected].