A local man who was digging a drainage ditch in a vacant lot Thursday morning was allegedly attacked and beaten with a stick by the resident of a nearby property who was arrested for felony battery.
Myron Zachary Clark, 46, of 104 Jones St., was arrested near his residence around 11:30 a.m. and charged with second-degree battery, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Clark, who lists no prior felony history, was later released on a $2,500 bond and is set to appear June 2 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 10:30 a.m., Hot Springs police Officer Joel Crook responded to 106 Jones St. regarding a disturbance and upon arrival made contact with Clark and the alleged victim, who was "breathing heavily" and had three bruise marks on his back and bloody scrapes to his left elbow and knee.
The victim told Crook he was at the corner of a vacant lot at 106 Jones, to the east of Clark's residence, outside Clark's fence, digging a trench "to alleviate drainage issues" in the area. He said Clark came out of his house and approached him with "a large wooden stick."
He alleges Clark began swinging the stick at him as he attempted to block the blows with his shovel. He said the shovel broke and he fell to the ground where Clark began beating him with the stick on his back and to his head, although the report notes officers did not observe any injuries to the victim's head.
While still talking to officers, the victim suddenly complained of dizziness and began vomiting. LifeNet responded and transported the victim to a local hospital. Clark was taken into custody without incident and charged with battery.
Local on 04/25/2020