HINTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – One man is charged with malicious assault and wounding after allegedly beating another man with a baseball bat.
According to Hinton Police, on Sunday, April 21, 2021, they were dispatched to a fight call on Temple Street. When they arrived, a victim held a towel on his head with pressure with blood on the ground around him. The victim says that Ernie Dale Cook Jr. came up from behind him and started striking him with a baseball bat numerous times.
A neighbor showed police security camera footage that shows an altercation that occurred between the victim and Cook. Cook then starts leaving and walking down the street, and the victim says something to Cook, which Cook then ran back toward the victim and started striking him again.
Later, police found Cook, and he told them that he hit the victim with his fist and a wooden bat and then fled.
Cook is charged with malicious assault and wounding. He is also charged with probation violation. He is currently in Southern Regional Jail.