Four local men were arrested recently on malicious wounding charges.

* Ernest Dempsey Barker, 50, of Clothier, was arrested by Deputy F.N. Ferrell of the LCSD for malicious wounding on Oct. 10.

According to police reports, on Oct. 4, Deputy Ferrell responded to a complaint in Clothier about some men fighting over some cats leading to one man being struck in the head with a mattock.

"Upon my arrival, I spoke with the victim's wife....who informed me that the victim...had been involved in an altercation with ... (another individual) and the defendant," the report states. "As a result of the altercation the victim had received injuries and was taken to Boone Memorial Hospital for treatment. I then went next door to the residence of the defendant.

"The defendant informed me that he and the victim had been arguing about kittens. The argument escalated and the victim came into his yard and threatened to harm him. The defendant then stated the victim and ... (the other individual) began to fight in his front yard. The defendant claimed that while they were fighting... (the other individual) retrieved a mattock from the defendant's porch and struck the victim with the mattock in the head. After leaving the Clothier area, I drove to Boone Memorial Hospital and spoke with the victim. The victim admitted to being in a physical altercation with... (the other individual), however the victim claimed that it was the defendant that struck him in the head with the mattock multiple times. On Oct. 6, 2008, I returned to the defendant's residence and obtained statements from both the defendant and (the other individual).'

The other individual "verified that he was involved in a physical altercation with the victim. However....(the other individual) stated that while he had the victim on the ground, the defendant began to hit the victim with a mattock....I obtained a second statement from the defendant in which he admitted that he went into his house and retrieved the mattock and struck the victim in the head with the mattock multiple times."

Barker was taken into custody on Oct. 10 and arraigned and released on bond at 11:45 a.m.

* Bobby Joe York, 39, of Man, was arrested by Tpr. G.W. Collins of the West Virginia State Police for malicious wounding on Oct. 11. According to police reports on Aug. 12, 2008 the officer received a complaint from the accused who stated the victim had struck him when he was dropping off her sister.

"Upon speaking with the victim...this officer learned that the accused had instigated the situation and had cut the victim with an unknown weapon," the report states. "This officer observed the wounds to the victim. This officer spoke to several witnesses who advised the same."

A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was booked at the regional jail at 11:28 a.m.

* Waylon Adams, 30, of Chapmanville, was arrested by deputies M.B. Carter and Dennis Brown of the Logan County Sheriff's Department for malicious wounding on Oct. 12. According to police reports "the defendant, Waylon Adams did hit the victim.... in the head with a short piece of two by four during an altercation over stolen rings."

He was taken into custody and booked at the Southwestern Regional Jail at 9:45 p.m.

* Leonard Ingersoll, 31, of Red Jacket, was arrested in Mingo County by the West Virginia State Police for malicious wounding on Oct. 9. He was booked at the regional jail at 3:20 a.m.

In other law enforcement news:

* Heather Lea Johnson, 33, residence not listed, was arrested in Logan County by the West WVSP for domestic assault, obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct on Oct. 11. She was booked at the regional jail at 5:38 a.m.

* Michael James Johnson, 31, residence not listed, was arrested in Logan County by the WVSP for domestic assault on Oct. 11. He was booked at the regional jail at 5:44 a.m.

* Michael Lee Vanover, 40, residence not listed, was arrested in Logan County by the WVSP for domestic assault, disorderly conduct and public intoxication on Oct. 11. He was booked at the regional jail at 6:03 a.m.

* Debra Ann Berry, 36, residence not listed, was arrested in Logan County by the WVSP for domestic assault, public intoxication and disorderly conduct on Oct. 11. She was booked at the regional jail at 6:15 a.m.