Battery Arrest Follows Altercation That Left Alleged Victim in Medically Induced Coma

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Corning man faces a felony battery charge after an altercation near Arkansas State University left another man with four separate brain hemorrhages and in a medically induced coma, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Peyton Edward Cartwright was arrested by Arkansas State University Police for second-degree battery, a Class D felony, according to court paperwork. Bond was set at $100,000 by Judge David Boling, following the suggestion of the prosecuting attorney. 

At about 1 a.m. Oct. 31, Officer Braxton Morefield was on patrol when he saw a man lying on the ground at 2509 Aggie Road with two men nearby, the affidavit states. Morefield stopped to check on him and found him unconscious and bleeding from the mouth.

A bystander told the officer he had witnessed an altercation between Cartwright and the victim. The bystander said Cartwright struck the victim, knocking him unconscious, then fled on foot, according to the affidavit.

Emergency medical personnel took the victim to the emergency room at St. Bernards, where an examination found four separate intracranial hemorrhages, the affidavit states. The document, dated Nov. 1 and sworn to Nov. 2, said the victim remained in a medically induced coma on a ventilator. The judge stated in court that the victim had been taken off of the ventilator but was still in a coma. 

Police called Cartwright and told him to come to the University Police Department to speak with officers.

During an interview after being advised of his rights, Cartwright told police a female acquaintance had contacted him and said the victim had struck her cousin in the face, according to the affidavit. Cartwright said he left a party on campus to find the victim, located him at 2509 Aggie Road and confronted him about whether he had hit a woman.

The affidavit states Cartwright then declined to answer further questions about possible guilt and invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.

Officers reported observing injuries to Cartwright’s hand that they described as consistent with a physical altercation. After the interview and photographs of his hand, Cartwright was arrested, according to the affidavit.

Court paperwork lists his next appearance for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 16 in Jonesboro. A Nov. 2 bond order also states that a no-contact order was issued between Cartwright and the victim in open court.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.