Charges Filed Against Waitsburg Man

WAITSBURG - Charges of first-degree burglary and second-degree assault were filed Friday in Walla Wal- la County Superior Court against Waitsburg resident Stephen R. Gipson of 231 Bruce Street.

Sixty-eight year old Gipson, known by locals as "Doc Rivers," was arrested on Tuesday, October 29 after allegedly attacking his neigh- bor, Norma Raymond the day prior.

According to Walla Walla County Public Information Officer, Undersheriff Edward Freyer, 67-year-old Raymond alleged that Gip- son "appeared" in her home uninvited. An altercation ensued and Gipson grabbed a stick from the kitchen, using it to beat Raymond on the forearm, knee and back.

The two struggled and Raymond eventually gained control of the stick. She chased Gipson from the dwelling to the front yard where she struck him repeatedly with the stick before calling the Sheriff's Office.

When deputies arrived, no one was home at Gipson's residence. Known only as "Doc Rivers", deputies ran the registration of a vehicle parked in front of the resi- dence to determine his legal name. Gipson was located, arrested and held in lieu of $20,000 bail the following day.

Raymond sustained minor injuries and Freyer com- mented that her statement "appears consistent with the evidence at this point."