THE NEWS DESK
The News Desk is a collection of news, notes and breaking items affecting the Fredericksburg community.
Colonial Beach officer charged with assault in city
BY KEITH EPPS
A dispute over loud music has resulted in a felony charge against a Colonial Beach police officer.
Kevin Murrell, 31, is charged with felonious assault as the result of an incident last week at the Forest Village apartment complex in Fredericksburg.
According to Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe, Murrell went to the apartment complex Thursday evening to drop off a child at his girlfriend’s apartment.
The girlfriend wasn’t home, so Murrell waited at the apartment and put the child to bed.
Loud music was being played at an apartment upstairs, Bledsoe said, so Murrell knocked on the door and asked the resident to turn it down.
An argument somehow turned into a fight, Bledsoe said, and Murrell eventually put 22-year-old Travis Cox in a choke hold.
Several residents came out of their apartments and witnessed part of the altercation, and police were called.
Cox declined transport to the hospital that night. A city detective investigated the incident and Murrell was initially charged with misdemeanor assault.
On Friday, Cox went to the hospital after realizing he was in more pain than he initially thought. It turned out he had a serious back injury, police said, possibly two cracked vertebrae.
After consulting with the commonwealth’s attorney’s office, city police decided to upgrade the charge against Murrell to a felony because of the seriousness of the injuries.
Murrell, who has an Orange address, turned himself in to city police Tuesday and was released by a magistrate on his own recognizance.
Meanwhile, Murrell on Sunday obtained his own warrant from a magistrate charging Cox with misdemeanor assault and battery. Cox was arrested and also released on a personal recognizance bond.
Bledsoe said city police officials have been in touch with their Colonial Beach counterparts regarding the situation.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
