BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WARFIELD — Things got physical Saturday at Dempsey Housing when deputies attempted to arrest 45-year-old Jimmy Dale Maynard of Warfield. What was supposed to be a straightforward warrant service turned into a chaotic struggle—with a torn earlobe, minor injuries and one man in jail.

Deputies from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office showed up at the housing complex in Warfield around 10 p.m. to serve Maynard with two outstanding bench warrants. The warrants from Lawrence Circuit Court had a looming court date of June 12.

“He told us we’d have to fight him to get cuffs on him,” Deputy Kenney Maynard recounted.

That is precisely what happened.

According to the police report, Jimmy Dale Maynard was standing on the stairs between two officers—Deputy J.C. Kirk above and Deputy Maynard below. When Kirk attempted to handcuff him, the suspect resisted. In the scuffle, Deputy Maynard wrapped his arms around the suspect’s legs and brought him to the ground. What followed was a grappling match with a painful turn.

“During this time the suspect tried to get me in a headlock,” Deputy Maynard said. “While taking control of his arm, the suspect grabbed my ear causing the lower lobe to tear.”

Patriot EMT advised that the deputy would need stitches, the police report states.

Deputy Kirk got away with just a scraped thumb.

Jimmy Dale Maynard now faces additional charges of third-degree assault on a police officer and resisting arrest alongside his two bench warrants.