*Berryville officer's gun discharges during altercation

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

BERRYVILLE -- A town police officer's gun discharged during a response to an altercation between two people late Wednesday night.

No one at the scene sustained injuries from the gunshot, according to Sgt. F.L. Tyler, of the Virginia State Police.

Authorities have arrested and charged William Thomas Painter, 58, of Berryville, with felonious assault of a law enforcement officer for injuries unrelated to the shooting, Tyler said.

Painter and the officer reported minor injuries, according to Tyler and Chief W. Neal White, of the Berryville Police Department. Neither person required transport to the hospital. Emergency workers treated Painter at the scene, White stated in a press release issued Thursday.

The officer responded to an altercation taking place between two people in the 100 block of Main Street, according to a release issued Thursday by Chief W. Neal White of the Berryville Police Department.

State police have not identified the officer because the matter remains under investigation, according to Tyler. State police investigate often investigate incidents that involve the discharge of an officer's service weapon. Questions have been referred to the state police.

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