Suspect charged with felony battery

An El Dorado man is scheduled for a first appearance hearing today in 35th Judicial District Court on a felony battery charge for allegedly striking another man in the head with a 2-by-4 board during an argument over money.

Earnest L. Heard, 48, of 105 Midway, was arrested Monday for second-degree battery.

Heard reportedly struck 45-year-old Ricky Davis in the head with a 2-by-4. Davis was transported by ambulance to Medical Center of South Arkansas, where he was treated for a large laceration to the head and released, according to El Dorado police.

Police were called just after 9 p.m. to the 900 block of Rock Island in reference to a disturbance, and upon arrival, they saw Davis crouched down by the edge of the roadway, bleeding profusely from a wound to the head. He told officers that Heard had hit him in the head with a board and that Heard lived at the Midway residence.

Davis did not provide details about the incident, only telling officers “that he was struck in the head by Heard over some bull crap.”

Police said they found Heard in

a field next to his residence on Midway and took him into custody when he approached them.

A witness made statements indicating that Heard had chased Davis down the street with the board and struck him in the head twice before returning to the field.

Heard told officers that Davis threatened him because he owes Davis $10. Heard said he asked Davis several times to leave but he refused and continued threatening him.

Heard said he “became extreme- ly upset” because the threats were made in front of his wife and daughter and he picked up a board and began striking Davis in the head with it.

Police said they were unable to find the 2-by-4 that was used in the incident.