Background: The home in Brenton, W.Va., where Timothy Vance allegedly attacked his family (Google Maps). Inset: Timothy Vance (Wyoming County Sheriff”s Office).
A West Virginia man who allegedly got drunk and lashed out at his family told police that he “wish[ed]” he had beaten up the teenager who tried to break up the fight.
Timothy Vance, 44, was arrested by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office after midnight on Friday after one of the children in the home called police to report that her parents were fighting, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by Law&Crime.
When police arrived, Vance’s wife told police that Vance had started drinking at around 8 p.m. the night before and fell asleep. While in bed with his wife, he allegedly woke up and “started kicking her,” which she “was trying to ignore.”
But ignoring Vance apparently only made him angrier.
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According to the complaint, Vance allegedly began “slapping her on the right side of her face” while she was holding the couple’s baby. During the altercation, Vance’s wife said, he “accidentally hit” the baby.
Vance’s wife told police that at this point, her teenage son, identified by his initials L.S., came into the bedroom and attempted to break up the fight. Police said that Vance then allegedly tried to attack L.S. At one point, Vance’s wife called Vance’s own son to come to the home to intervene.
Another child in the home, the daughter of Vance’s wife, also spoke to police at the scene and confirmed that Vance allegedly tried to attack L.S. She described the chaotic scene, which reportedly involved Vance “cussing and screaming at everyone in the house.” The girl told police that she saw Vance “swinging” at L.S. but he “never made contact.” She and L.S. eventually escaped to another room to call 911.
L.S. told police that he had gone in the bedroom to tell Vance “to stop cussing at his mom.” Vance then allegedly tried to attack him, which led L.S. to strike Vance in self-defense. The girl separated L.S. from Vance, who “continued to cuss and scream,” trying to get him to continue fighting.
Vance, who had been convicted of domestic battery in May, was arrested at his father’s home on the property. Police said he smelled of alcohol, and he reportedly told deputies, “I wish I could have beaten the s— out of [L.S.].”
Vance was taken into custody and charged with felony child neglect causing bodily injury and four counts of misdemeanor domestic assault.
