October 4, 2010 at approximately 8:20 pm, the Baxter County Sheriff's Office was notified of a male at the Emergency Room of the Hospital who had been assaulted. Deputies arrived and interviewed the victim. Statements and photographs were taken of the victim injuries.

     Initial Investigation revealed the 22 year old victim was at his home on County Road 615, in the Buford area when his brother, 24 year old William Richard Royer, also of Buford, came to his residence and began yelling at the victim. There had been an ongoing dispute between the two over a vehicle that had been damaged in an accident. Suspect Royer used a baseball bat and began breaking the glass on the front door of the Victim Royer's house. Suspect Royer then entered the residence and swung the baseball bat striking the Victim Royer one time in the left arm. The Victim Royer fell to the floor and the Suspect Royer continued to stand over him with the baseball bat yelling at the Victim Royer for several minutes before leaving the residence. After the Suspect Royer left the home, Victim Royer contacted a friend who took him to the emergency. No one else was at the residence during the incident.

     Deputy Trey Edings went to the Suspect Royer's home. The suspect admitted his actions in the event and admitted he had struck the younger Royer with the baseball bat. William Richard Royer was arrested and charged with:

Domestic Battery, 2nd Degree         Class C Felony
Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree          Class A Misdemeanor

     He was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center where he posted a $15,000 bond and was released.

Sheriff John Montgomery