Laurens Police Officers were dispatched to Garlington Street at 7:47 Saturday morning when an anonymous call reported hearing a male and female screaming in what sounded like a fight, and of a child crying. Officer James Woody was first to arrive and reported observing a man standing in the parking lot of the apartments. He reportedly said all that happened was that his phone was messed up with gel and he grabbed the victim’s phone and grabbed her arm trying to stop her. Officer Woody then went inside and spoke with the female, noting he observed injuries on her. He also reportedly noted older injuries from a recent incident. Sgt. Thibodeau then placed the man under detention.
21-year-old Markevious Rydell Simpson of Apt. D at 201 Garlington Street, Laurens was placed in the Johnson Detention Center. He was charged with two cases of Domestic Violence for alleged assaults on his girlfriend last week. One warrant states charging Domestic Violence 3rd Degree states that between December 22nd and 23rd he assaulted the victim by punching her in the left eye with a closed fist, and that they live together as a couple. This is allegedly aggravated by the fact that the injury to the eye caused impaired vision two days after the incident at 201 Garlington Street.
The second warrant charging Domestic Violence 2nd Degree states that on December 26th Simpson struck the victim in her throat with a closed fist, also struck her about the face and was dragging the victim by the hair of her head during the incident at 201 Garlington Street.
With cash or surety bonds totaling $40,000 on the two charges, Markevious Rydell Simpson remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.