PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Mercer County man is facing a malicious wounding charge after allegedly emerging from the woods and striking a pedestrian in the head with a brick.
Princeton police responded to a reported battery on Shopview Avenue at approximately 1:41 p.m. Friday, September 11.
The victim, identified as Justin Hess, told officers he had been walking home along Roundhouse Road when a bald man came out of the woods yelling profanities and holding a brick.
According to the criminal complaint, the man acted aggressively before striking Hess in the head with the brick. Hess then ran toward his home to seek safety.
Officers reported finding Hess with a large cut on the right side of his forehead. His face and shirt were reportedly covered in blood.
Police identified Joe Stephenson as a possible suspect because he was known to be staying in the woods near the site of the alleged attack and matched the description provided by Hess.
Hess was shown two photographs of Stephenson and identified him as the alleged attacker, according to police.
Officers followed several trails into the woods and found Stephenson outside a camping tent. Police reported seeing several bricks around the campsite.
Stephenson was arrested and charged with malicious wounding. He was transported to the Princeton Police Department for processing.
The charge is an allegation, and Stephenson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
