KING'S JAIL SENTENCE SUSPENDED - Charged With Assaulting Off-Duty Calhoun Deputy, Brandishing Weapon

(04/08/2005)
Charges of brandishing a deadly weapon have been dropped against thirty-two-year-old Chloe resident Robert King.

King and another Calhoun man were charged with assaulting an off-duty Calhoun County deputy sheriff last October.

State Police say King and another Chloe resident Rodney Jarvis, 21, attacked Ron Bandy in front of Froggy's Lounge at Big Otter, seriously injuring him.

A Clay magistrate court found King guilty of battery and sentenced him to 30 days in jail. The sentence was suspended. He was placed on six months probation and fined $100 and given $123.50 court costs.

In an earlier Big Otter incident, King was allegedly driving a "big-wheeled" truck when he crashed into a group of people at another bar near the I-79 interchange. Several people witnessed the incident, but a Clay jury found King not guilty of the offense.

State Trooper B. G. Wriston said Bandy was trying to get Robert King into the passenger side of a Ford Mustang, when King turned and struck him in the face.

"Rodney Jarvis put the Mustang in reverse knocking Mr. Bandy to the ground," said the officer, after which he continued to back up running over Bandy's legs.

The officer said Jarvis then drove the vehicle forward and ran over Bandy again.

Jarvis, King and a third man identified as Robert Greathouse then left the scene, said Wriston.

Jarvis and King reportedly returned to the scene driving a flatbed truck, with King "hanging out the side window, brandishing and firing a firearm."

Bandy was taken to Charleston Area Medical Center where he was treated for several days.

Rodney Jarvis has been charged with a felony count of malicious wounding. His case will likely go before a Clay County grand jury. Jarvis was also charged with leaving the scene.

State Police said they took statements from six individuals at the scene, in addition to Bandy.