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Arbogast
BUCKHANNON -- A Buckhannon man was arrested after an early morning fight that ended with the victim suffering a broken nose and being transported to the hospital.
Steven Dewayne Arbogast, 38, was arrested for malicious or unlawful assault, a felony. On Tuesday, April 2, Cpl. Joshua Wilson with the Buckhannon Police Department responded to a call of a fight at 127 E. Main St. about 1:40 a.m. Upon arrival, officers were met by Delbert Boyles who advised him that he needed backup because people inside were "killing each other." Wilson made entry into the residence and found Arbogast laying on the dining room floor in a confused state with bloody hands and socks. The victim, Harold Murphy, was in the kitchen with his face covered in blood. Wilson noted that there was also a puddle of blood in the hallway.
Wilson began to talk to Arbogast who tried to get up and the officer told him no and put his hand on his shoulder. However, Arbogast then allegedly swung at Wilson and the officer and Cpl. Marshall O'Connor took the man to the ground.
"The defendant refused to comply with both officers' orders to stop resisting and was very angry and combative," Wilson wrote in the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk's office.
Arbogast was arrested and placed in a cruiser.
Wilson then spoke with Boyles who advised that Murphy had came to the residence about 15 minutes prior with a 15-pack of beer. Boyles went to the restroom and came back to find Arbogast punching Murphy in the face over and over.
Boyles told Arbogast to stop or he would call the police but Arbogast did not stop and Boyles called for help
The victim, Murphy, suffered a broken nose, black eye, deep cut to the forehead and several large knots around the face area, according to the criminal complaint. Murphy was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital but then transferred to Ruby Memorial Hospital. Murphy had been discharged from Ruby Memorial Hospital by late Tuesday afternoon, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Wilson noted in the criminal complaint that Arbogast had no visible marks.
Magistrate Kay Hurst arraigned Arbogast on a $50,000 bond and ordered him to have no contact with Murphy.
If convicted, Arbogast faces confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than two nor more than 10 years.