A reportedly intoxicated Royal man was arrested Wednesday night after allegedly assaulting his wife and her 7-year-old son during an altercation in their camper.
James Eric McKee, 26, of 346 Natural Place, was taken into custody at his residence shortly after 8 p.m. and charged with felony counts of second-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for the assault of the child, and first-degree criminal mischief, punishable by up to six years, and a misdemeanor count of third-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to one year in jail, for the assault of his wife.
He remained in custody on zero bond Thursday and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 8 p.m., Garland County sheriff's Deputy Devyn Helms responded to the residence regarding a domestic disturbance in progress and upon arrival made contact with McKee's wife, 27, who stated she and McKee had been in a physical fight.
She said they got into an argument about him drinking alcohol and she tried to take the alcohol away from him, causing his phone to fall in the water. She said she then went inside their camper with her children.
She said she was sitting on the sofa with her son and McKee came in and ripped the child out of her arms. She said he then grabbed her and threw her down while still holding the child and left the camper carrying him. She said she yelled at him to bring the child back and he did. But then he threw her to the ground again, causing her to hit her head, and began covering her nose and mouth so she couldn't breath.
She said she yelled at her other son, 7, to go get help and the boy attempted to leave, but McKee pulled him back inside. The boy tried to leave a second time and McKee allegedly grabbed him and threw him back into the camper and then kicked him in the head to get him to stay inside.
At that point, she said McKee left the camper, breaking the windows on his way out. He also broke the camper's awning during the altercation. Helms spoke to the owner of the camper who stated she wanted charges filed for the damages.
The owner told Helms the awning was valued at $3,000 and the screen door and window he damaged were valued at a total of $2,000. McKee's wife said she wanted charges filed for the assault on her and her 7-year-old son, who corroborated her statement of the incident.
The affidavit notes the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children division was contacted and a report filed.
Local on 04/24/2020