The state rested today in the case of a city employee who was allegedly assaulted while following up on a nuisance complaint in May.

Jurors were dismissed this afternoon so the court, under the guidance of Superior Court Judge J.C. Cole of Hertford County, could craft jury instructions and Halifax County Assistant District Attorney Amy Broughton and the defense could prepare for closing arguments in the case, in which William Gilbert Roundtree III is charged in the assault of Walter Johnson, who works for the Roanoke Rapids Public Works Department.

Greg Perry, Roundtree’s attorney, sought to dismiss charges of communicating threats and first-degree kidnapping in the case. Judge Cole denied that request.

In testimony today, George Malone Jr., a Halifax Regional Medical Center emergency room doctor, testified that on May 1 Johnson was admitted for treatment for multiple injuries sustained in an assault.

Malone described the injuries as moderate and ranged from Johnson’s face to knee. They included soft tissue swelling about the eye and face, swelling and abrasions around the eye and bruising on the chest. He testified there were also scrapes over Johnson’s left knee.

Malone ordered CT scans and X-rays but found no evidence of fractures or concussion. He prescribed a narcotic for pain relief. “Over-the-counter analgesics were not enough.”

Johnson, who serves as safety coordinator for the city and investigates nuisance complaints, was going to follow-up on a nuisance complaint in the same area near Roundtree’s house when he stopped at the defendant’s house to check up on an earlier complaint there.

Johnson said he saw an improvement in the conditions of Roundtree’s property. “We like to give people benefit of the doubt,” he said. “I noticed improvement. I like when people work with me.”

Johnson said he saw Roundtree in his yard at 2100 Roanoke Avenue and pulled up to the curb. “Sometimes you can talk and work things out.”

Johnson said Roundtree approached him and although the safety coordinator claims he never set foot on the property, Roundtree claimed he was trespassing. “It seemed to be an aggressive tone,” he said of Roundtree’s voice. “I said I wasn’t trespassing.”

Roundtree, according to Johnson’s testimony, vented about issues he said he had with the city in the past. “It seems like the more he talked the more agitated he got. He got acting more aggressive and cussing more.”

Johnson testified Roundtree allegedly threatened to beat him up, to which Johnson responded he would call the police if he did. “He punched me. It happened so fast. He kept hitting me in my face.”

Johnson said he didn’t think he ever had time to defend himself and found himself on the ground, Roundtree’s knee pinning him. Roundtree’s dog bit him in the left leg. “I was in shock. He stopped hitting me and told me he was calling 911.”

After the call Roundtree allegedly spit in Johnson’s face. Johnson said he never grabbed Roundtree’s shirt.

The safety coordinator says he still suffers dizziness from the assault.

Perry asked Johnson why he just didn’t leave when Roundtree accused him of trespassing. “It seemed odd because I was on the street. Sometimes you see someone in their yard and can talk.”

Sergeant W.F. Bowens of the city police department said when she arrived Roundtree seemed agitated. “He was saying ‘I warned him. I told him I was going to whoop his ass.’”

Johnson, she said, seemed at a loss for words.

rrspin.com was subpoenaed to testify in the case and was the final witness. After a hearing outside the jury, Judge Cole allowed the news website to testify to a May 3 article which documented why Johnson went to the property and also included an electronic interview with Roundtree, in which he admitted to assaulting Johnson, but only after he claimed Johnson agitated him.