Cops, Prosecutor Look Into Dispute Between Leesburg Residents
Posted
Jen Gibson-jgibson@timesuniononline.com
A dispute between two Leesburg men could lead to battery charges.
At this time, no charges have been filed. But information about the incident was forwarded to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office Thursday. Officials from the prosecutor's office have not yet made the decision whether they will pursue charges or not.According to a report filed in the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, William "Bill" Jones told police he was on his way home Feb. 24 when he realized that he forgot some things at his business on Van Buren Street, Leesburg.
Jones told police he left his driveway and saw Ryan Robinson, the Leesburg Town Council president, at an intersection. Then, Jones said, Robinson allegedly "flipped him off" and followed Jones to the business.
Jones reportedly told police that when he got out of his vehicle at the business, Robinson allegedly approached Jones and then pushed Jones a few times. Jones told police he fell back against his vehicle and then fell to the ground.
According to the report, Jones said Robinson reportedly continued to yell at Jones and call him names, trying to get Jones to fight.
When Robinson started to walk away, Jones reportedly got out his cell phone and called the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.
While Jones was on the phone, Robinson allegedly went back toward him and the dispatcher could hear the man talking in the background. After a few minutes, Robinson reportedly left and Jones stayed on the line with the dispatch center.
Jones told police that there is an ongoing dispute between the two men regarding a real estate deal in the past. Jones also told police that he could allegedly smell alcohol on Robinson's breath.
When police arrived, they took photos of Jones' muddy clothing and where he reportedly fell to the ground.
After speaking with Jones, deputies headed to Robinson's house to gather information about his side of the incident.
Robinson reportedly told the police that the incident between him and Jones was not a big deal.
When police told Robinson that Jones wanted to press charges related to the incident, Robinson allegedly told them that there was an altercation with some pushing and shoving between the two men.
Robinson reportedly did not go into detail about the fight, but the report says he told police "that you can not make the Jones boys happy," and that "no matter what happens in the town of Leesburg, the Jones' are mad about it."
Cpl. Mike Mulligan left statement forms with both men, requesting that they fill them out and return them to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. Jones has returned his statement to the sheriff's department, but Robinson has not. A copy of the 911 call has been placed in the digital evidence hard drive at the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.
