A Cleveland man has been charged with aggravated assault and kidnapping after police found an injured man in the back of his pickup truck. Cleveland Police Chief Jeff Shoemaker says the suspect assaulted the man at an apartment complex and was trying to remove him from the scene when officers arrived.
A 911 caller reported a physical assault with weapons at 223 Bryant Street around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, December 4. When officers arrived, they located and stopped a pickup truck matching the description provided by witnesses.
“The driver of the pickup truck was detained, and officers located a male victim who had sustained significant injuries to his body in the bed area of the truck. Immediate medical attention was rendered to the victim, who was later taken by ambulance for medical treatment,” says Shoemaker.
Shoemaker says the driver, 35-year-old Jeread David Grizzle, was identified as the aggressor and was taken into custody. He says the assault resulted from an ongoing dispute between known parties and was not a random act of violence.
Police have not released the victim’s name.
Officers arrested and charged Grizzle with kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, battery, criminal damage to property, and DUI. They booked him in the White County Detention Center where, as of December 8, he remained without bond.
The Cleveland Police Department and Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office are investigating the case.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Lt. Sims at 706-865-2111.
