Summers set for docket in Roland robbery, assault

Arrest warrant issued for second suspect

Two men have been charged in Sequoyah County District Court after allegedly robbing and assaulting a Roland man at gunpoint in November.

Joshua E. Summers, 28, of Roland was charged on Dec. 1 with felony first-degree robbery, as well as assault, battery or assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He received a $20,000 bond and is now set to appear before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters for a Jan. 18 felony disposition docket.

Matthew W. Whitfield, 33, of Houston is facing the same charges, along with a felony charge of burglary in the first degree. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, according to court records.

Roland Police officer Richard Seabolt reported on Nov. 12 he was dispatched to Mayfield Street after a passerby saw a man lying in his front yard with a laceration to his head. Seabolt said the victim had blood on his chest and neck, and was holding a shirt to his head. The victim said two men forced their way into his home through the front door and once inside, allegedly began assaulting him with multiple objects, according to the probable cause affidavit. The victim said he was also told “to never mess with their sister.”

Emergency personnel and Roland first responders administered aid to the victim, and he was then transported to Baptist Health in Fort Smith for his injuries.

The following day, Investigator Jason Stone went to the residence where the assault allegedly occurred and took photographs. He then spoke with the victim at the hospital.

The victim told Stone the two males knocked on his front door and when he opened it, one of them held a gun on him while the other allegedly beat him on the head. After being released from the hospital, the victim called police and told them he’d found a cylinder for a 22 long rifle pistol on the floor that did not belong to him. Officer Brandon Luper took photographs of the cylinder and four bullets, and collected them as evidence.

According to the affidavit, Summers had reportedly asked the victim if he could come to his residence, and when he did, he asked if he could lock the door. The victim said Summers appeared to be nervous, and a few seconds later, the victim heard a knock on the door. The victim said Summers opened the door and the two men entered the residence. He claimed to have recognized Whitfield and pushed him back, and said that’s when the other man pointed a gun at him and Summers grabbed him.

The victim alleged Whitfield began hitting him in the head, and he heard Summers allegedly say “grab the gun,” according to the probable cause affidavit.

Whitfield then reportedly picked up an AR-style BB gun and broke the barrel, hitting the victim in the head with it. The victim said the men took the BB gun valued at $430, along with the gun sight, valued at $55. The men also reportedly took a set of Beat headphones worth $350, and broke the victim’s MacBook, valued at $700. The victim said that before they left the residence, they also broke his phone and ripped the T-shirt he was wearing.

Arrest warrants with no bond were issued for both suspects on Dec. 1.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said first-degree burglary is punishable by imprisonment for seven to 20 years, while the assault and battery charge with a deadly weapon is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years in the penitentiary or one year in the county jail. First-degree robbery is punishable by imprisonment for not less than 10 years.