Couple Charged After Domestic Fight

A couple's argument turned physical, leaving one person with a visible injury and both facing domestic violence charges. But only one of them ended up going to jail. Deputies responding to the disturbance found a man who had reportedly locked himself in a bathroom while waiting for law enforcement to arrive. Both people claimed they were acting in self-defense. Argument Turns Physical According to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a residence in the Chesapeake area after receiving a domestic violence complaint. When the first deputy arrived, he could hear an argument coming from inside the home. The man, identified as William Scarberry, answered the door and agreed to speak with the deputy outside while another officer interviewed Alexandra Scarberry inside. William told deputies the two had been arguing while he stood in the kitchen and Alexandra sat on the couch. He alleged that Alexandra threw her phone onto the floor, stood up and charged toward him. William said Alexandra repeatedly struck and scratched him. He claimed he raised his arms to protect himself and pushed her away, making contact with her jaw and causing her to fall. According to William, Alexandra approached him again and attempted to strike him, prompting him to push her away a second time. He then retrieved his phone and called 911. Woman Says She Was Defending Herself Alexandra provided a different account. She acknowledged that the two had been arguing but said William struck her in the jaw when she stood up from the couch and walked toward him. She maintained that William initiated the physical confrontation and that her actions afterward were in self-defense. Both declined to provide written statements. Deputy Finds Evidence of Injury During the investigation, the deputy noticed a scratch on William's right forearm. The injury appeared consistent with his account of being scratched during the confrontation. The deputy photographed it for evidence. William also told deputies he had a handgun on his person when they arrived. For safety reasons, the deputy instructed him to place his hands on the hood of a nearby vehicle, conducted a weapons frisk and temporarily secured a pink-and-white Taurus G2C handgun. The report does not allege that the firearm was displayed or used during the domestic dispute. Both Face Domestic Violence Charges After interviewing both parties and reviewing the physical evidence, the deputy determined that Alexandra was the primary physical aggressor. However, investigators concluded that both William and Alexandra should face domestic violence charges. Alexandra was arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where she was held pending the posting of bond or her arraignment. William was not taken into custody. Instead, the report states that he would receive a court summons on his domestic violence charge. The sheriff's report does not provide the outcome of either case.

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