CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – A 65-year-old Chillicothe man became the victim of an alleged violent assault late Tuesday evening, resulting in serious injuries that required him to be airlifted to a Columbus-area trauma center.
According to a police report obtained by The Guardian, officers were dispatched to the BP gas station on Safford Avenue after receiving reports of a possible assault. Upon arrival, they found 65-year-old Robert Counts lying on the ground with a significant amount of blood coming from the back of his head and ears.
The report stated that Counts was unable to recall the events leading to his injuries. However, a witness provided officers with a description of the incident, alleging that two men in a van were involved in a confrontation with Counts. The witness stated that after the confrontation, he saw Counts on the ground. A second witness offered additional details, claiming they saw one of the men punch Counts in the head and, after Counts fell to the ground, allegedly stomp on his head twice before fleeing the scene.
Using surveillance footage from the gas station, police were able to identify the suspect as 34-year-old Robert Althouse. The footage reportedly showed Althouse and another man exiting a gold Dodge Caravan, entering the gas station, and later approaching Counts at a pump. At around 9:15 p.m., the video shows Althouse allegedly grabbing Counts and throwing him onto the concrete, where he appeared to lose consciousness. Althouse is then seen returning to the Dodge Caravan and leaving the scene.
Officers later located Althouse at a residence on Park Street, where he was taken into custody. According to the police report, charges of felonious assault will be pursued against him. Counts was subsequently airlifted to a trauma center in the Columbus area for further treatment.
In his statement to police, Althouse claimed the altercation began because Counts was “talking (expletive) about his kids.” He further alleged that Counts provoked the situation by opening his car door and “checking” him with it. Althouse stated that he shut the car door and began to walk away when Counts allegedly punched him in the back of the head. Althouse claimed he pushed Counts away in response, causing Counts to fall and intentionally strike his head on the ground. He said he then left the scene.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.