Hamilton County grand jury receives assault, abuse case from February

Quintel Walker
Quintel Walker

A judge sent the case against a 26-year-old man to a Hamilton County grand jury after a preliminary hearing Wednesday on his aggravated child abuse and assault charges.

Police say Quintel Walker, of North Parkdale Avenue, assaulted two boys, then 8 and 10, around 5 p.m. on Feb. 19. He pushed one of the children, who was riding a bike, onto the ground before jumping on top of him, police said. Then, when the boy's brother tried punching him in the back, Walker grabbed him by the shirt and threw him to the ground, according to police.

Their mother and a neighbor testified Wednesday before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Christie Sell in support of the boys. None of their names will be used to protect the boys' identities.

The neighbor said she was driving through the neighborhood when she noticed Walker and one of the children "getting into it." About four or five children had been going up the street, she said, some of them on bikes.

"The other brother, I heard him say, 'Leave my brother alone!'" she said.

She laid on the horn to get their mother's attention and eventually the fight dissolved. Records show Walker locked himself inside his home, refusing to answer authorities until police officers broke through his door and arrested him.

Walker's attorney, Bill Speek, wanted the neighbor to recall exactly what she saw that night.

She saw Walker holding one child to the ground, he said. She saw one of the boys hit Walker in the back. And she saw Walker grab that boy and pull him over his shoulder.

"You didn't see Mr. Walker strike any of the kids?" he asked.

"He was going to strike [one of the children]," the neighbor said.

"You said he was going [to], I'm asking you whether he did," Speek replied.

Prosecutor Ben Boyer also called their mother, who said one of the children came into the house crying. His shirt was ripped, his chest bloodied. She said she treated the wound at home and never took him to the hospital.

Boyer then told Sell the state had presented sufficient proof - but Speek wanted one of the boys to testify.

Standing between two lawyers twice his height, the boy fielded questions, mostly about when he and his friends decided to throw rocks at Walker.

Sell finally leaned over to ask: "Was there a reason why you were throwing rocks?"

"He [Walker] was trying to take my brother's bicycle," the boy said. "He was running up on it."

The boys started throwing rocks around that time, the boy said, fearful Walker would hurt them or take something from them.

Walker, who was arrested and charged with four counts of assault, one count of resisting arrest and one count of aggravated child abuse, watched quietly in his jail uniform. He remains in custody on a $42,500 bond for all six charges, Silverdale Detention Center officials said Tuesday.

After hearing the evidence, Sell sent the abuse charge and one of the assault charges to the grand jury.

Attorneys agreed to meet again July 20 to deal with the other charges, which stem from Walker's attempt to assault an officer. According to records, while police tried to place him under arrest, Walker bit one of the officer's fingers.

If the grand jury returns an indictment on these charges, Walker will get a Criminal Court date.

Contact staff writer Zack Peterson at 423-757-6347 or zpeterson@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @zackpeterson918.

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