According to Indiana authorities, a day at the golf course descended into a gory mess that left one man critically injured and another imprisoned.
It happened on Friday at the Links at Heartland Crossing golf course in Camby, which is not far from Indianapolis, soon after 1 p.m. When Morgan County Sheriff’s Office deputies got to the golf course, they discovered the victim seated in the rear of an ambulance. The victim stated in a probable cause arrest affidavit that he was playing golf with some friends when they decided to finish the front nine and head into the clubhouse for food. This information was received from sources.
The statement stated that while they were in the clubhouse, a party consisting of two men and a woman “cut” in front of them and proceeded to the 10th tee. The victim claimed to have “some choice words” for the group since they were not playing through without asking, which is against “proper golf etiquette.”
According to the affidavit, he informed the woman, “they were being a——- for cutting in front of them,” as she was leaving the clubhouse on a golf cart. According to the complaint, the victim said that the woman “flipped him off and went crying back to her group.” His playing partners informed police that the victim’s husband—later identified as 34-year-old Jerry Whitaker—got in her face a short while afterwards. Whitaker insisted that the man accept an apology for calling his spouse a c—. The injured party declined. Whitaker is accused of repeatedly punching the victim in the face. Witnesses told police that when the victim fell, Whitaker scooped him up and slammed him on the ground.
According to the affidavit, it caused the victim to lose consciousness, and the victim’s playing partner claimed it seemed like he briefly stopped breathing. Investigators noted that he was also bleeding from the forehead. After someone dialled 911, the victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance. According to the affidavit, he sustained seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a broken vertebrae fragment in his back. His forehead gash required many sutures.
Whitaker was taken into custody by police on suspicion of battery, disorderly behaviour, and severe battery. Since then, he has posted a bond. November 18 is his next scheduled court date. His attorney opted not to respond.
