×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Drug Deal Results In Alleged Assault In Marshall County

A Marshall County man is facing assault charges following what authorities described as a drug deal gone bad in Moundsville.

According to a criminal complaint, the Moundsville Police Department responded to a First Street gas station where two men claimed they were assaulted with a baseball bat, held against their will and forced to strip naked early Saturday.

An alleged victim advised the two had traveled with Ryan Lanall Akers, 29, of 35 Hickory Ave., Moundsville, to St. Clairsville, where they allegedly purchased marijuana before returning to Akers’ home for a party.

According to the complaint, Akers came downstairs in the morning with a baseball bat and belt, demanding money, believing he had been ripped off in the drug deal in St. Clairsville, the complaint states.

Akers then allegedly told both men to strip, put their clothes back on and sit on the steps.

Akers then began beating the two men with the belt and bat and informed the alleged victims they were not allowed to leave the residence, the complaint states. According to the complaint, Akers’ girlfriend was upstairs with a gun during the interaction.

After leaving the Hickory Avenue home, the one of the alleged victims told authorities he informed Akers he wanted to enter the First Street gas station to get napkins to clean blood from his face.

While inside, he told a cashier he was being kidnapped and to call the police, which led Akers to flee  from the area, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, responding officers observed several injuries on the complainant, including swelling on his right arm and torso along with leg injuries. Officers took the victim to Reynolds Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Akers is charged with unlawful restraint and malicious assault, a felony. He is currently free on $2,500 bond.

In an unrelated incident Sunday, Matthew Thomas Cline, 20, of 106 Elm St. in Powhatan Point, was charged with domestic battery following an alleged incident with his girlfriend.

According to the criminal complaint, the Moundsville Police Department received a call stating a man had hit a woman in a shopping plaza around 5:15 p.m. Sunday.

The alleged victim stated she and Cline had entered into a verbal argument over a cellphone and he hit her with his car door, the complaint states.

Two eyewitnesses provided written statements, both advising Cline had shoved the woman into the car and hit her with the door when she attempted to get out. One witness stated Cline punched the woman’s head shortly after.

Cline is charged with domestic battery. He is free on $5,000 bond.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today