MEMPHIS, Mo.- A Knox County man is in jail after an alleged physical altercation that took place Monday night just north of Memphis. Scotland County Sheriff Bryan Whitney told KMEM News that Joshua Lay of Knox City was taken into custody Wednesday evening by the Knox County Sheriff’s Department on a Scotland County warrant for a Class B felony of 1st Degree Assault. He was transferred to the Scotland County jail, where he remains lodged in lieu of $100,000 cash-only bond.
A probable cause statement filed in the case states that local law enforcement was dispatched around 9 pm Monday evening to a residence 3 miles north of Memphis regarding a reported assault. Prior to law enforcement arriving at the residence, they were notified that an ambulance had already departed the scene with the victim and were enroute to Scotland County Hospital in Memphis.
The document goes on to allege that the victim was traveling on Highway 15 just south of his residence when a truck driven by Lay passed him. Lay then slid the truck to a stop sideways, blocking the victim’s vehicle and forcing him to stop. Lay then got out of his truck and approached the victim’s driver’s side door. At this point he allegedly struck the victim in the head, knocking him unconscious. The victim reported that he was unsure what he was struck with, due to being unconscious. The victim later woke up lying on the yellow line in the middle of Highway 15. Lay had departed the scene in his truck by this point. The victim was able to drive himself home and then contacted family for medical help. The victim told law enforcement officers that he was an acquaintance of Lay’s wife and that Lay blamed him for their marital issues.
The victim reportedly suffered serious head injuries that included a sagittal orientation fracture and a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Due to the nature of the injuries, the victim was soon transferred by helicopter to University Hospital in Columbia.
A bond hearing for Joshua Lay is scheduled for Monday, May 18th, at 9 am in Scotland County Associate Circuit Court before Judge Kim Nicoli.
Joshua Lay of Knox City, MO
(Photo courtesy of Scotland County Sheriff's Department)
