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Scuffle
at MoPub facility results in charges
by
Ivan Foley
Landmark Editor
Charges filed in Platte County Circuit
Court accuse a former supervisor with utility company
Missouri Public Service (MoPub) of assaulting a MoPub
employee.
James A. Craig, 39, of Smithville, is charged with a
Class A misdemeanor of assault in the third degree. He
is accused of assaulting a MoPub employee, identified
in court documents as Leroy Babcock of Platte City, at
the MoPub service facility located on Bethel Road east
of Platte City.
A Platte County Sheriff's Department report indicates
the incident occurred on July 11 at about 9:50 a.m.
According to the sheriff's report, Babcock told authorities
that he and Craig were doing paperwork when Craig became
angry and made a threatening comment to him. Babcock told
authorities that Craig then punched him in the face, shoved
him against a wall and began choking him.
The sheriff's report says three witnesses agreed with
Babcock's version of events.
After the alleged assault, Babcock went to an attorney's
office in Platte City, from where authorities were called
and the incident was reported. An ambulance was called
to the law office and Babcock was taken to Saint Luke's
Northland Hospital for treatment.
He was complaining of shortness of breath, numbness in
his hands, pain in the back of his head, pain near his
left eye and pain in an elbow, according to authorities.
When a sheriff's deputy arrived at the MoPub office,
he was told Craig had left the scene. Craig was eventually
found at his residence, where he was read his rights,
according to the sheriff's report.
Craig, who is no longer employed with Missouri Public
Service, is set to appear in court on the misdemeanor
assault charge on Monday, Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. in Platte
County Circuit Court Division V.
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