A Jonesboro man is being held on a $35,000 cash or surety bond following an alleged assault that reportedly began with a spilled drink.
According to an affidavit, 49-year-old Stanford Wilkerson faces a second-degree battery charge, a Class D felony in Arkansas, after an incident involving a victim over 60 years old. Craighead County District Judge David Boling found probable cause to issue the charge.
Jonesboro police responded to a call on Reserve Drive on Friday, July 10, regarding an assault. Officers spoke with the victim, who stated they were injured after intervening in a dispute between Wilkerson and the victim’s neighbor.
The affidavit said the incident began when the neighbor accidentally spilled a drink inside Wilkerson’s vehicle. Wilkerson reportedly became angry and instructed the neighbor to retrieve a larger towel to clean the spill. Wilkerson then allegedly threw a washcloth or towel at the neighbor, though the affidavit noted the neighbor said Wilkerson did not strike them with his fists.
The victim, who witnessed this, decided to intervene. According to the affidavit, Wilkerson became enraged, pushed the victim into a building, and caused them to fall and strike their head. The altercation allegedly escalated as Wilkerson struck the victim multiple times with his hands, leading to injuries to the victim’s forearm, ears, nose, and head.
A witness reportedly told investigators that Wilkerson initiated the altercation by striking the victim and knocking them to the ground. Wilkerson then left the scene in his vehicle, the affidavit said.
Wilkerson remains in custody as the case moves forward.