A 60-year-old man was arrested recently after he admitted to using a baseball bat to hit a man who tried to intervene in an argument with a woman.
The victim told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy he heard Richard Lee Cooper, 60, of Umatilla, yelling at a woman and became concerned for her safety. He said he started talking to Cooper to get him to stop yelling at the woman and Cooper responded by telling him he was not allowed to be at the residence and needed to leave, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The victim said Cooper became irate and went inside the residence to retrieve a baseball bat. He said Cooper came outside with the bat, charged towards him and swung the bat towards his head. The victim said he lifted his left arm to cover his face and the bat struck his left forearm, the report said.
The victim said he started punching Cooper in self-defense because he was in fear he would be struck again with the bat. He said Cooper continued trying to hit him with the bat. The victim said he was able to deliver one final punch that incapacitated Cooper long enough for him to get away, according to the report.
The owner of the residence said he was working in the back yard when he heard Cooper screaming in the front yard. He said he walked to the front yard and saw the victim standing there. He said the victim told him he had been struck with a baseball bat in the forearm by Cooper, the report said.
The female witness at the center of the dispute told the deputy she was at the residence to retrieve some of her items when Cooper started yelling at her and asking if she was allowed to be at the residence. She said she ignored Cooper and went inside the residence to get her things, according to the report.
The witness said Cooper started following her around, causing her to be concerned he may try to harm her. She said the victim heard Cooper yelling and tried to speak with him to keep her safe. The witness said the pair argued before Cooper went inside and came out with a baseball bat. She said Cooper struck the victim with the bat and the victim started punching Cooper in self-defense, the report said.
Cooper told the deputy he was in a verbal argument with the witness and another female. He said he told them to leave the and the victim charged towards him. Cooper said the victim said, “I’m gonna beat your ass,” and started cussing at him, according to the report.
Cooper said he went inside the residence, retrieved a baseball bat and returned outside. He said he told the victim to leave and he refused. Cooper said he struck the victim with the bat and also said, “I hit him first,” the report said.
Further research by the deputy revealed that Cooper does not own the residence and had only been staying there a few days. The deputy observed the victim’s left forearm was very swollen and had two red lines leading up to the swelling mark, which appeared consistent with the outline of a baseball bat, according to the report.
Cooper was charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability. He was taken to the Marion County Jail and held on $10,000 bond. Cooper is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on July 7.