Evans

VALLEY HEAD – A Fairmont man is facing a felony battery charge after allegedly throwing a hunting axe at a man’s head, and instead hitting his hand.

Shaquille Lee Evans, 32, is charged with malicious battery, a felony. He is currently being held at the North Central Regional Jail on a $15,000 cash-only bond set by Randolph County Magistrate Michael Dyer.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Deputy L.R. Elbon with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on July 14, Elbon responded to a 911 call regarding an alleged assault that occurred in front of the Valley Head Fire Department.

Upon gathering further information, Elbon learned that Evans supposedly had a physical altercation with the alleged victim, the complaint states. During the altercation, Evans allegedly “threw a camping axe” at the alleged victim, attempting to hit him in the head, but instead striking him in the right hand. The alleged victim reportedly received a “large laceration between (the) knuckles.”

The alleged victim told Elbon that, after Evans allegedly threw the axe, he was “pursued by Evans on foot” while Evans allegedly threatened him with a baseball bat, the complaint states. The alleged victim then called 911 once he felt safe.

The alleged victim was transported by Randolph County EMS to Davis Medical Center, where he was admitted for “serious bodily injury to (their) hand,” the complaint states.

On Aug. 30, Elbon, Deputy J. Wolfe and members of the West Virginia State Police received a tip about Evans’ location, in the Valley Head area, and attempted to serve an outstanding warrant, according to a Wednesday release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. Evans was allegedly seen fleeing from the rear of a residence “wielding a large machete” towards a nearby creek bed.

Elbon writes that he pursued Evans on foot “at gun point,” ordering Evans to drop the machete and get onto the ground. Evans allegedly failed to comply. Elbon and Wolfe continued to pursue Evans on foot “through multiple fields” until they were unable to locate him.

According to the statement from the Sheriff’s Office, Elbon received several tips that Evans had left the Valley Head area and had returned to the Marion County and Harrison County area.

“I would like to take this time to thank the residents in the Valley Head area for the continued assistance on locating Evans during this investigation,” Elbon wrote in the statement put out by the Sheriff’s Office.

Evans is also facing one count of fleeing from law enforcement officers to evade arrest by means other than a vehicle, a misdemeanor, in Marion County, stemming from an incident that occurred on Nov. 17.

A preliminary hearing for Evans has been scheduled in Randolph County Magistrate Court for Nov. 26.