MITCHELL – A Bicknell man was arrested after Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a home in the 600 block of The Claim Road after a report a man was hitting a woman.
When police arrived at 12:20 a.m. on Sunday they were greeted at the door by a woman who was “frantic” and suffered a laceration to the left side of her nose along with a contusion to the right side of her nose.
When officers entered the home and announced their presence, Bates did not answer.
Bates was found in a bedroom hiding behind a propped-up mattress covered with blankets. The officers noticed Bates’ feet sticking out from underneath the blankets.
Bates was placed in handcuffs and questioned at that time.
Bates admitted that he and the woman had argued but nothing physical had taken place.
When asked how the woman was issued, Bates responded that “she must have fallen down the stairs”.
The woman told police the two were arguing and then Bates struck her. She also claimed that he made threats to harm her and kill her. It was at that time he began throwing her around the room.
It was also reported that a child in the home tried to protect the woman by yelling at Bates to stop hitting their mom.
The woman tried to leave, but Bates entered her vehicle and prevented her from leaving.
It was at this time, the woman called a family member to get help. Bates then grabbed her by the hair and forced her face into the door frame, causing her to fall to the floor.
He then choked her, elbowed her, punched her in the stomach, and then bit her in the back.
Police say the woman had finger markings plainly visible on her neck, as well as what appeared to be bite marks on the lower right-hand side of her back. She was also limping when she walked.
The woman signed a battery affidavit.
Bates was detained on charges of criminal confinement, domestic battery in the presence of a minor, strangulation, and aggravated battery.
