MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Two off-duty Berkeley County sheriff’s deputies are on administrative leave after being named in criminal charges from an alleged altercation at the Toughman Contest in Martinsburg last month.
Investigators have charged Deputy Bryant Snapp, 36, of Hedgesville, with felony malicious wounding and Deputy David Knotts, 31, of Berkeley Springs, with disorderly conduct. Kaylyn Snapp, 34, the deputy’s wife, was charged with misdemeanor battery.
All three are currently free on bond awaiting future court appearances in Berkeley County Magistrate Court.
The charges, first reported by Journal Editor Toni Milbourne, stem from an altercation that Martinsburg police said broke out March 14 during a Toughman event at the Berkeley 2000 Rec Center.
Martinsburg Police Sgt. RS Fritz says he was working at the event when he saw a group of individuals he recognized who were “yelling about the fight” after a winner was announced. The group included the off-duty deputies and Kaylyn Snapp.
Sgt. Fritz reported seeing a beer can being thrown by Knotts. He removed the group involved “in an attempt to regain control of the arena.” A witness told Fritz Knotts started the fight by throwing the beer, Fritz said.
Another man told a Martinsburg police officer he had been hit in the head and wanted to pursue charges. The man left the arena, but Sgt. Fritz said he was able to follow up with him two days later. The victim told him he had gone to the emergency room on Saturday because his head and neck hurt and he had been vomiting. He said he had been diagnosed with a mild/traumatic brain injury and concussion. He also complained that his hip was hurting.
The alleged victim said following the fight in the ring, the group of people in front of him were cheering the outcome, but the group of people behind him, “did not like that.”
He told the officer that someone from the group behind him threw a beer can, soaking everyone in the area, including him as well as his wife.
A man, later identified as Deputy Bryant Snapp started cursing at a man in front of them. The victim said after that man stood up Snapp then allegedly “was on top of the victim breaking his chair and sending him to the ground.” He said once he got Snapp off of him and attempted to find his glasses, Kaylyn Snapp jumped on his back and put him in a chokehold. The man’s wife got Mrs. Snapp off of him.
When the victim finally found his glasses and went to stand up, he says someone hit him in the back of the head, which he says a witness in the stand reported to be Mr. Snapp. The victim’s wife told Sgt. Fritz that during the incident, Deputy Snapp tried to get loose from his friends saying he was going to kill the victim.
Sgt. Fritz said a review of the footage from the recreation center shows Snapp going up “to confront the male” but doesn’t show much after that. He added the alleged victim is still suffering headaches and reports his leg is numb and that he has been diagnosed with nerve damage.
If convicted, Deputy Snapp could face 2 to 10 years in prison on the felony malicious wounding charge. He is free on a $5,000 cash/surety bond.
Deputy Knotts could face up to 24 hours in jail and a fine of up to $100. He’s free on a $300 recognizance bond.
Mrs. Snapp could face a year in jail or a fine of up to $500 on the misdemeanor battery charge. She pleaded not guilty. Her bail was set at $750 recognizance.
The Panhandle News Network reached out to Berkeley County Prosecutor Joe Kinser who says he cannot comment other than to say a special prosecutor has been appointed.
Berkeley County Sheriff Rob Blair said the two deputies will remain on administrative leave as the investigation continues.
Blair said his department is conducting their own internal investigation “as per our policy and state civil service code.”