By Samantha Perry
For The Register-Herald
BLUEFIELD —
A Bluefield police officer was charged with unlawful assault Monday after a weekend incident in Princeton in which he allegedly punched and struck an individual with a beer bottle.
Daniel Lambert, of Princeton, a patrolman with the Bluefield Police Department, was arraigned Monday afternoon before Magistrate Charles Poe and released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. A Hinton police officer, Theodore White, who was allegedly with Lambert during the incident, has not been charged.
According to court records, the incident occurred around 5 a.m. Sunday morning. The victim was traveling on Thorn Street when he “thought he was being pulled over,” according to Lambert’s arrest warrant.
After pulling his car over, the victim exited his car and asked the occupants of the vehicle behind him if they were police officers, according to the arrest warrant. After the occupants stated “no,” the victim asked: “Why are you impersonating a police officer?”
At that time, the victim states in the warrant, a passenger in the front of the vehicle used pepper spray on him. The victim said at that point he could not see;“however he felt being hit by what felt like a baseball bat and heard beer bottles breaking all around him,” according to the warrant.
The victim was able to get in his car, drive toward Mercer Street and call 911, according to court documents. The victim told police he recognized the driver of the vehicle, identifying him as White.
Princeton police officers located the suspects at White’s home, and they were transported to the Princeton Police Department for questioning.
A witness at the scene stated “Lambert pepper sprayed the victim and then exited the vehicle at which time the witness heard bottles breaking,” according to the warrant.
The court documents also noted another witness “saw the front passenger (Lambert) and driver of the vehicle (White) exit the truck and begin striking the victim with beer bottles and their fist [sic]. The witness further stated the victim was in a fetal position on the ground yelling stop; however the two suspects continued kicking and hitting the victim.”
Princeton Police Chief W.L. Harman confirmed the victim was hospitalized.
Bluefield Police Chief Joe Wilson said Lambert has been placed on administrative leave. He said neither officer was on duty when the incident occurred.
Wilson said it was his understanding the alleged victim was released from the hospital Monday.
“Obviously, the Princeton Police Department is handling the criminal investigation,” he said. However, Wilson said he is investigating the incident from an “administrative” position.
Hinton Police Chief D.S. Snavely said he has been made aware of the investigation.
“As far as my department goes, Patrolman White has been placed on leave without pay while the investigation is ongoing.”
Unlawful assault is a felony charge.
Chief Harman said other charges may be pending in the case. The incident remains under investigation by Princeton Police Department Det. David Whited.
— Samantha Perry is a reporter for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph
