Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Near Drowning At Lawrenceburg Creek Results In Two Arrests
Two men were arrested Monday afternoon at a Lawrenceburg creek after they allegedly engaged a group of individuals in a ruckus, then attempted to drown one young man.
Officers with the Lawrenceburg Police Department were dispatched at 2:54 p.m. to Hope Springs Park (situated just across the creek from David Crockett State Park and behind the Lawrenceburg Water Filtration Plant) off of West Gaines Street, on a report of a drowning in progress. Upon arrival, they indicate several individuals claimed to have been assaulted by two men, who appeared to be intoxicated. They then took statements from a group of approximately six adults and ten children.
A female victim reported the men had invited her to “hang out” with them, but that she declined and moved her children further down the creek. She said the men then followed.
One of the men reportedly grabbed her young son’s glasses, stating that he “needed to be a man.” She said the man made her son jump off a cliff in order to get his glasses back.
The woman stated that at one point she asked the men to refrain from cursing around the children, which apparently angered them. Another woman intervened, asking whether they were okay. They reported that one man began “hitting her with his chest,” then drew back his fist as if to strike her.
At this point, the victims reported the woman’s boyfriend, Jonathan McNabb, 22, of Roberts Avenue, intervened. McNabb instructed the man not to strike his girlfriend. Both men then jumped into the creek and began assaulting McNabb. Witnesses reported McNabb was struck repeatedly about the head, that the men grabbed him by the throat and began choking him, then held him beneath the water in an apparent attempt to drown him.
Those who attempted to intervene reported they were shoved and struck by the men. The men then began making threats to kill the adults and children alike.
The victims quickly assisted McNabb and all exited the creek and made their way to the parking lot to await the arrival of police officers.
As a result of the ensuing investigation Clifford Wayne Risner, 44 , of 4551 Pulaski Highway, Lawrenceburg, and Martin Jason Kelley, 39, of 1807 Mahr Avenue, Lawrenceburg, were each placed under arrest and transported to the Lawrence County Jail. They were booked under charges of public intoxication and aggravated assault.
Both Risner and Kelley are scheduled to answer the charges through Lawrence County General Sessions Court on September 2, 2010.
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