A Royal man was arrested late Monday on a felony battery charge after allegedly assaulting his neighbor, including striking him with a bike chain.
Harvey Jackson Austin II, 34, was taken into custody shortly before midnight and charged with first-degree battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $5,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Garland County sheriff's Sgt. Greg Kellar and Deputy Clayton Green were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Natural Place to assist LifeNet with a possibly suicidal person. Deputies were met in the roadway by Austin, who stated the victim, later identified as James Dunnahoo, 49, was at his house.
As deputies approached the residence, Dunnahoo walked outside on the front porch and they noted he was bleeding and his face was covered in blood. LifeNet arrived and transported Dunnahoo to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs with severe injuries to his face. He had to be secured on the gurney at one point when he began having convulsions.
Austin told Green that Dunnahoo was his neighbor. When asked if he knew anyone that would have beat him up, Austin allegedly admitted he had done it. Austin was brought to the sheriff's department and agreed to be interviewed after being read his rights.
Austin stated his girlfriend, 36, had called him and a male friend, 39, after she claimed Dunnahoo had come into the residence and "scared her." She said he came in, turned down her stereo and then took the power cord to an electric skillet. Austin said when he returned to the residence after her call, he found his girlfriend in the closet, crying.
The friend reportedly called Dunnahoo and told him to bring back the power cord. When Dunnahoo returned, Austin allegedly stated he punched him in the head while he had a bike chain wrapped around his fist. He said he struck him a second time with his other hand after the chain "flew off his hand" from the first blow.
Local on 10/25/2017