Published: July 22, 2009 08:05 am      

Family quarrel leads to assault, burglary arrest

A quarrel between newly minted in-laws ended Friday with a Richmond man being arrested for assault and burglary and treated for a head wound caused by a skillet, Richmond police said.

Sean M. Zocklein, 28, of Keri Ann Drive, was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, attempted third-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, alcohol intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Police responded to an apartment in the 400 block of Jason Drive around 5:50 p.m. to a reported altercation, according to Richmond Police Department spokesman Sgt. Willard Reardon.

Zocklein exited the apartment with blood on his face, Reardon said, followed by two females covered in blood. Zocklein attempted to kick the officers and had to be subdued, Reardon said.

One of the women was identified as Zocklein’s wife, Reardon said, and the other was his sister-in-law. The couple had been married that day, Reardon said, and had gone to the sister-in-law’s home to move her belongings out.

Reardon said a dispute broke out between Zocklein and the sister-in-law during the move that resulted in Zocklein allegedly kicking and kneeing her outside the apartment.

The woman then retreated into her apartment only to have Zocklein follow her in and lock the door, Reardon said. The sister-in-law then struck him in the head with a skillet as he advanced toward her, Reardon said.

She fled into a laundry room and attempted to hold the door shut until Zocklein allegedly punched through the door, broke in and began choking and punching her, Reardon said.

Zocklein’s wife was able to pull him off the woman, which is when police arrived, Reardon said.

After his arrest, Zocklein was taken to Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center and treated for a head wound caused by the skillet strike. He was lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.

Traffic stop finds drugs

Police arrested a Linden Street resident early Friday morning and found 18 grams of crack cocaine in his car after he was stopped for driving without headlights.

James A. Phelps, 27, was stopped on Dwight Drive after police saw him driving without headlights around 12:30 a.m.

Phelps was driving on a suspended license, Reardon said, and was taken into custody. A search of Phelps uncovered a piece of what police suspected was crack cocaine.

A canine unit was then dispatched to search the car, and uncovered two additional bags of suspected crack cocaine and a bag of marijuana, Reardon said.

Phelps was charged with first-degree possession of and first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of marijuana, driving on a suspended license and failure to illuminate headlights. He was lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.

Stolen truck recovered

Police on Monday recovered a 1993 Toyota pickup truck that was reported stolen from outside the Blue Moon Tavern on Saturday evening.

Dustin Isaacs, 20, no known address, and Edwin D. Herring, 19, of Fifth Street, were arrested after police saw them exiting the truck behind a residence in the 300 block of Fifth Street.

The truck had been reported as abandoned on Fifth Street, and when officers responded, they quickly took Herring into custody, Reardon said.

Isaacs attempted to flee, and residents helped police determine he was hiding behind the residence in the 300 block, where he was taken into custody.

The truck was returned to its owner, but a .22-caliber rifle which was inside the truck when it was stolen still is missing. Isaacs and Herring are charged with felony receiving stolen property and were lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.

Other crimes

• Billy J. Drinnon, 50, of Fourth Street, was arrested Sunday for tampering with physical evidence, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and alcohol intoxication after police say he attempted to hide a wallet and cigarette case containing 45 Dramadol pills, an unidentified pill and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop.

Drinnon was a passenger in a vehicle stopped on Justin Drive for erratic driving. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence, but during the stop, officers witnessed Drinnon attempt to hide the items under the rear seat of the car.

• A Castlewood Drive resident had two vehicles broken into overnight Saturday, and one of the two was severely vandalized.

The vandal or vandals egged the car, causing paint damage, flattened all four tires, scratched the car’s custom rims and cut all the seats. Stolen in the incident were a Pioneer CD player and an Apple iPod Touch.

The items and damage to the car were valued at $3,400.

• An Irvine Road resident reported Thursday that two Echo chainsaws and an air compressor valued at $700 were stolen from his residence in the 1800 block the day before. There were no signs of forced entry, police said.

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Richmond Police Department at 623-1162 or 623-8911.

Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister. com or at 624-6694.