Izard county man arrested after Weed eater, super glue and video games play part in domestic battery

An Izard County man faces charges of domestic battery and was recently arrested following allegations involving a weed eater, a knife, Gorilla super glue, duct tape, thrown knives, heavy drinking and, repeatedly, the video game Rocket League.

According to the probable cause affidavit from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office 40-year-old Charles Branch of Franklin faces a felony charge of second-degree domestic battery after a woman told deputies she had been held against her will for three days and severely beaten. She alleged Branch cut her arm with a knife, repeatedly punched her and used a weed eater on her legs and ankles. Deputies reported observing bruises, cuts and a laceration, including injuries to her legs they said appeared consistent with repeated contact from weed eater string. A weed eater was later photographed inside Branch’s living room.

On August 2, Branch was arrested at his residence and taken to the Izard County Detention Center. According to the affidavit, he was “heavily intoxicated” when taken into custody.

The case became more unusual two days later when Branch sat down with investigators.

Branch denied intentionally injuring the woman and offered a different explanation. He told investigators he had been playing a video game Rocket League and drinking beer when an argument developed over their relationship. Branch stated that on July 31 while he was playing Rocket League and drinking a beer, she asked ifhe still planned to end the relationship to which he replied, “Why do you think I ain’t talking?” Branch claimed the woman then pulled a military style K-Bar knife and cut her own wrist. He said the two fell while he attempted to take the knife from her and blamed a bruise on her cheek on her striking a wooden chair during the fall.

Branch admitted he did not call 911 after the severe cut. Instead, according to his statement, he ripped off his shirt to apply pressure, rinsed the wound with cold water and attempted an improvised medical repair. Branch said he used Gorilla brand super glue to close the wound, reapplying it after the first attempt failed, and then fashioned butterfly bandages out of white duct tape.

He also denied using the weed eater on the woman, telling investigators he was confused when a deputy asked about the tool. Branch attributed her other injuries to falls or self-inflicted wounds. Investigators noted, however, that Branch’s timeline changed several times during the interview and that he gave conflicting accounts about when he noticed injuries to the woman’s legs and feet.

He stated he believed she “threw him under the bus” in the next day or two to retaliate and avoid being reported for self harm.

A witness told investigators she had previously seen marks resembling scratches on the woman’s leg, but said the woman at that time claimed she had accidentally hit herself with a weed eater while working outside. The witness  also recalled seeing a bruise on the woman’s cheek.

The witness described other unusual circumstances inside the homes involved in the case. She said Branch and the woman had previously been “throwing knives” inside another residence, sticking knives into walls and striking a picture, prompting her to confiscate the larger knives. She described Branch’s home as dirty, smelling strongly of beer and cluttered with toolboxes. The affidavit also notes a large cage had previously contained a possum.

According to the witness, heavy drinking was common, with the pair sometimes consuming as much as one or two 30-packs of beer in a day. She also described occasions when the two ran naked through the house in the mornings while wrestling and “acting like kids.” One recent argument she recalled reportedly began while breakfast was being prepared after roaches got into grease in an uncovered pan.

Investigators wrote that Branch made several conflicting statements during his interview and concluded there was reasonable and probable cause to believe he was responsible for some, if not all, of the woman’s injuries.

Branch was charged with second degree domestic battery and was booked into the Izard County Detention Center. He is free after posting $20,000 bond.

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