MORGANTOWN — One man is in jail after allegedly beating and robbing a man in Healthy Heights Village.
Jerrik Kanard Peterson, 22, of Morgantown, is charged with first-degree robbery and malicious assault.
Chief Deputy Al Kisner said the incident is still under investigation, and detectives are following up on a second suspect.
According to a criminal complaint, deputies were called to a “strong arm robbery” in Healthy Heights Village Saturday.
A deputy spoke with the alleged victim, Carl Morris, who was covered in blood with his face and arms still bleeding. The complaint said he was “badly beaten.”
Morris told the deputy that he left his girlfriend, Tesla Somers’, trailer and unlocked his truck and was tackled and beaten in the driveway by two people. He said the two continued to beat him until he went limp and he tried to cover himself the best he could.
He said he thought he would “have to get away or die,” so he stood up and grabbed a piece of metal to defend himself. The two men stopped attacking him and started looking through his truck, so he ran inside and Somers went out and yelled at the suspects, who then ran off.
Morris said his attackers were both wearing black jackets and dark clothing and that he recognized one of them as Peterson. He told deputies Peterson was down the street in a trailer with a red truck parked in front and showed deputies which trailer.
Deputies knocked on the door and spoke with Peterson whose hand was “freshly busted open,” the complaint stated.
The clothing described was balled up and hidden under an open portion of the trailer, but Peterson said he had no idea what was going on and refused to admit any involvement in the attack and robbery.
Peterson is being held in North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $53,000 bond.
First-degree robbery is punishable by 10-25 years in prison. Malicious assault is punishable by not more than six months, a fine of not more than $100 or both.
