One man is officially charged after a vicious beating in Eldon.  A formal charge of first-degree assault with serious physical injury was filed Thursday against Enoch “Spike” Gill.  The incident happened Wednesday at J&M Barber Shop.  Gill told police he was getting his haircut and telling the barber that two members of a motorcycle club had told his son they were going to “beat up” his dad.  At that point, the unidentified victim apparently jumped out of his seat, told Gill who he was, and the argument ensued.  When the men went outside, Gill knocked the man down and continued beating him even after he became unresponsive.  The victim was taken to Lake Regional and transferred to University Hospital.  His injuries include multiple facial fractures and destroyed eye sockets, according to police documents. 

The Camden County Commission is going after legal fees after winning a decision in U.S. District Court. They’ve filed a motion to recoup more than$140-thousand in attorney’s fees and costs related to a suit filed by County Clerk Rowland Todd against the commission claiming violations of his First Amendment rights. Reading from a statement prepared by legal counsel for the county commission, presiding commissioner Greg Hasty says the suit filed by Todd was nothing more than a political ploy…

 

The court entered a judgement earlier this month in favor of the commissioners and against Todd. The case was resolved on a summary judgement which means no general issue of material fact supported the lawsuit filed by Todd. A jury trial had been scheduled for August 6th.

 

STATEMENT FROM COUNTY COMMISSION LEGAL COUNSEL Chet Pleban:

The Camden County Commissioners filed a motion with the United States District Court for the Western District seeking to recoup attorneys’ fees and costs in a lawsuit filed against them by Camden County Clerk Rowland Todd.

On June 6, 2018, the Court entered a judgement in favor of the Commissioners and against Todd.  The Commissioners are seeking to recover $144,989.91 of taxpayer funds used to defend the suit.  The motion alleges that “This case was nothing more than a political ploy.  It wasted this Court’s resources and taxpayer money in defending these claims, which were clearly frivolous, unreasonable, groundless, and without foundation.  The Plaintiff knew on February 21, 2017, when he sent the letter, that it was not protected by the First Amendment”

“This case was resolved on a summary judgment which means the Court found no general issue of material fact and therefore, nothing for a jury to decide.  In filing the motion, the Commissioners feel that they have an obligation to the residents of Camden County to attempt to recover these taxpayer funds.”

 

 

 

Authorities in Camden County have issued warrants for the arrest of a Linn Creek woman in connection to an incident at Ha Ha Tonka State Park that landed another man behind bars.  Julie Maria Beeman has warrants out for two counts of possession of controlled substances, a count of possession of paraphernalia, and two separate incidents of resisting or interfering with an arrest.  It’s alleged that Beeman was one of three people believed to be in possession of methamphetamine, pills, and a syringe during an incident at the park on May 16^th.  Beeman allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle while the responding officer fought with another defendant – Chasten Bax – in a fight that took both men into the water before Bax escaped.  He was eventually captured and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, and resisting creating a risk of serious injury or death.