*Accounts vary on details of assault on officer

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

BERRYVILLE -- Accounts differ on the details of an April 20 incident in which a town man struck a police officer, who then fired his gun in self defense.

William Thomas "Tommy" Painter, 58, of 116 W. Main St., remains free on bond and faces a preliminary hearing May 18 in Clarke County General District Court on a felony charge of assault and battery of a law enforcement officer.

While the officer states in a court document Painter hit him in the head with a metal pipe, another paper filed by a state police investigator indicates the suspect struck the officer in the arm and left visible injuries.

Daniel Morozewicz, an officer with the Berryville Police Department for five years, responded to a reported stabbing in the area of the Subway sandwich shop on West Main Street, authorities have stated.

Morozewicz attempted to arrest Painter, who fled a short distance from the scene.

Morozewicz states in a criminal complaint filed with the court the day after the incident that Painter picked up a metal pipe and struck him in the head. The officer states he retreated from Painter, who advanced toward him with the pipe.

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