What began as a loud argument between two men escalated into a profanity-filled confrontation with a neighbor — and ended with deputies forcing their way inside a residence and firing a Taser to take a suspect into custody.
According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a complaint of “neighbor trouble” just after mid-afternoon. A woman told officers she had been outside walking her dog when one of the men next door began screaming insults and charging toward her, even yelling that her dog had supposedly hurled an obscenity at him. Frightened, she retreated into her home and called for help.
She also reported that the two men next door had been arguing throughout the evening and into the early morning hours, banging around the property around 4 a.m. She told deputies she saw one of the men burning junk and copper from nearby abandoned mobile homes when she left for work. She also said both men frequently urinate outside due to lack of running water at the residence.
When deputies knocked at the suspect’s door, they were met with a shout: “Who the [expletive] is banging on my door?” After deputies identified themselves and told the man he was under arrest, he backed away and tried to retreat into the home. Officers followed, ordering him to put his hands behind his back. He refused multiple times, leading deputies to deploy a Taser before finally subduing him.
The Arrest
Deputies arrested Charles Ritchie, who was transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
He is charged with:
- Criminal menacing
- Resisting arrest
A Very Crowded Court Calendar
Ritchie entered a not-guilty plea and was assigned a public defender. He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on December 5, which conveniently lands on the same day he is already due in court for sentencing in two separate cases:
- A sexual imposition charge from October
- A criminal damaging case from March
Ritchie also has a lengthy criminal history, including a 2003 charge of gross sexual imposition and prior cases involving arson and domestic violence.
With new charges now added to the pile — and a day in court approaching — December 5 is shaping up to be a very busy day for him.
