KPD Makes Arrest Following Knife Attack

Staff Report

KENBRIDGE – Kenbridge Police Department made an arrest on Monday following an assault with a knife on Sunday night.

KPD Sergeant Aaron Peter was dispatched by 9-1-1 to Slip In located along S. Broad Street in Kenbridge at approximately 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 30.

Once he arrived at the scene, Sgt. Peter found a man who had suffered serious cuts and lacerations to his body from a knife.  One of the wounds was to the arm and was approximately 5” in length and over 1” deep. A second wound was in the kidney area. The man with the wounds was identified as Kenbridge resident Ronnie Blackwell.

Sgt.  Peter indicated that the victim was not able to be interviewed at that time because of the injuries and Kenbridge Emergency Squad was dispatched to transport Blackwell to VCU-CMH Hospital.

While investigating the incident a witness cooperated with the officer and explained what they had seen take place. During this time, Lunenburg Sheriff’s Deputy P. Dayton was called to a location along N. Decatur Street in Kenbridge for an altercation incident. At that point, Sgt. Peter was able to ascertain that the man involved in the assault with the knife was at this residence.

The man was identified as Kenbridge resident Edward Baylor. He initially indicated that he was hit by Blackwell with a tire iron and wanted to press charges for assault.

Sgt. Peter was able to continue the investigation with Blackwell at the hospital where he helped confirm witness accounts. Blackwell indicated that he had been cut on the arm following an initial confrontation with Baylor. He then proceeded to get a tire iron from his vehicle to help protect himself, but he had also suffered the wound to his back from a knife as well during the incident.

On Monday, KPD officials arrested Baylor and charged him with felony Aggravated Malicious Wounding as a result of the incident. He was transported to Piedmont Regional Jail.

Blackwell was charged with misdemeanor Assault and Battery.