Carson City Sheriff’s Office investigating fatal domestic battery

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal domestic battery.

Deputies responded to the 3000 block of Melanie Lane Wednesday around 8 p.m. for an unconscious male. When deputies and fire personnel arrived on scene, the victim, identified as 39-year-old Richard Doke, was unconscious and medics believed he was suffering from head trauma.

Officers had responded to that same location twice Wednesday for problems and verbal arguments between two roommates. The arrest report stated Doke had several injuries and blood on his face that were not there during the previous encounters at the location, according to the Carson City Sheriff’s Office.

Doke was taken to Renown Regional Medical Center where he died Friday morning. He never regained consciousness.

His roommate, Rex Warren, 53, was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery, though additional charges were pending.

Warren had called 911 around 5:25 p.m. on Wednesday, initially to report an unwanted subject was at his residence. When deputies arrived, they determined the unwanted person was Doke, who resided at the location and the incident was calmly settled. Warren then called 911 an hour later to make Doke leave. Warren called a third time at 8 p.m. to report his roommate was unconscious and having a seizure.

Like most jurisdictions, deputies at the Carson City Sheriff’s Office receive training for Crisis Intervention. A review of the actions taken by officers on the previous calls to the address appear to have been well within the guidelines of their training.

The arrest report said Warren told officers he didn’t know himself and the victim were in an altercation and Doke allegedly began to punch him before collapsing and went into a seizure. He also allegedly told officers he never touched Doke, but later changed his story and said the two had gotten into a wrestling match.

The investigation is ongoing and an autopsy is scheduled.