Local man allegedly grabs niece by throat; charged with battery
A local man was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge Sunday night after allegedly grabbing his niece by the throat during an argument at his residence.
James Robert McDaniel, 37, of 2339 E. Grand Ave., was taken into custody at his residence shortly before 8: 30 p. m. and charged with third- degree domestic battery, punishable by up to one year in jail.
McDaniel was being held on zero bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Garland County sheriff’s Deputy Darrell Harmon was dispatched to a residence on Ridgeview Street in Hot Springs regarding an incident that reportedly occurred earlier at the 2339 E. Grand residence.
Harmon spoke to the alleged victim, 18, who stated that about 30 minutes earlier she got into an argument with her grandmother after she made a comment about her weight. During the argument, her uncle, identified as McDaniel, allegedly stepped in and told her, “If you were my kid, I’d beat your (expletive).”
She said she replied to him, “I’d like to see you try.”
At that point, she alleges he grabbed her by the throat, causing bruising and redness. She said he also grabbed her left forearm causing redness and bruising and Harmon noted she also had a bruise under her right biceps.
Harmon and Deputy Matt Cogburn went to McDaniel’s residence to speak with him and he allegedly stated his niece had attacked him first, but the deputies noted he “did not have any identifying marks on him.”
He was taken into custody without incident and taken to the jail. The alleged victim was given a Laura’s Card, issued by the Arkansas attorney general’s office, which explains a victim’s rights and protections under Arkansas law.