BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

PIKE COUNTY — A property-line dispute between neighbors on Big Creek Road near the Martin County line ended with one man injured and another arrested on an assault charge July 26.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Zachary Burgess responded to a fight involving Robert Blankenship Sr. and Ethan Marcum, according to a criminal complaint.

The disagreement reportedly began over the property line between their homes.

Blankenship’s son, Robert Blankenship Jr., 27, of Flower Garden Hollow in Belfry, arrived during the dispute. He told police that Marcum began throwing rocks at his vehicle.

Marcum was then struck by Blankenship Jr.’s vehicle, injuring his knee.

Blankenship Jr. told police that he did not mean to hit Marcum. He said the collision happened after Marcum threw a large rock at his vehicle.

Marcum told police a different story. He said Blankenship Jr. crossed the road and hit him while he was standing away from the roadway.

Marcum said he threw a shovel at the vehicle after Blankenship Jr. turned around and appeared to be driving toward him again.

Burgess spoke with witnesses who supported Marcum’s account of what happened.

Emergency workers took Marcum to Tug Valley Appalachian Regional Hospital in South Williamson for treatment of his knee injury.

Police arrested Blankenship Jr. on a charge of second-degree assault and took him to the Pike County Detention Center.