Mannington, W.Va. A Mannington police officer is on unpaid administrative leave after being charged with felony malicious wounding.
On Jan. 16, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a fight at a residence on Whetstone Road. The victim told deputies that Donald Sides, 54, an officer with the Mannington Police Department, came to his home and beat him.
The victim said he and Sides had been drinking at a local bar and had words. When Sides asked the victim to step outside, they did, and that resulted in a verbal altercation. The victim then went back inside the bar.
After the victim left the bar, Sides went to the victim’s home and again tried to get the victim to fight. A witness came to the scene and tried to get Sides to leave, but he refused.
The victim refused to fight and ultimately fell while arguing with Sides. Sides allegedly kneed the victim in the eye and bit his index finger while on the ground.
The victim was transported for treatment.
Sides has been released on bail.