UPDATE: Domestic case dismissed

NEWKIRK — Ruth Ann Harper, 62, appeared before Judge David Bandy in Kay County District Court last week on a domestic assault charge. The court dismissed the charge on a motion made by the state.

Ponca City woman faces domestic abuse charge

NEWKIRK — Ponca City resident Ruth Ann Harper, 62, is scheduled to appear on the domestic assault and battery docket in Kay County District Court on Sept. 10.

Harper was arrested by Ponca City police on Aug. 16 at 12:15 p.m. in the 400 block of west Cleveland Ave. and later charged with a misdemeanor count of domestic abuse, assault and battery.

Ponca City police officer Destiny Bates reports in the affidavit, filed at the Kay County Clerks office as a public record, that she responded to the address and spoke to Harper.

Harper reportedly told Bates that she had gotten her boyfriend a present and that he was on the couch opening it. Harper then reportedly told Bates that she told her boyfriend that he could not have the present anymore.

“I grabbed the present and his phone that was beside him because it is in my name,” Harper reportedly stated to the officer. “He got up and grabbed my left arm. I went into the back room and called the police. I put the rest of the present in the back room.”

Bates reports that she did not observe any injuries on Harper.

The alleged victim reportedly told Bates that he did not know what is going on.

He claimed that Harper was acting different and accusing him of taking money, not helping with the bills, and messing around with other females on Facebook.

He reportedly told the officer that he thought she was nervous about an upcoming trip but that she decided they were no longer taking the trip so he returned the stuff they had purchased.

The male subject reportedly told police that Harper gave him a present and as he was opening it, she allegedly grabbed the present and his hand and dug her nails into his hand and took his phone.

“I asked her to just let me get my SIM card from the phone,” the alleged victim told Bates. 

“But Ruth said I was lucky I already had the smartwatch out of the present. I was setting up the smartwatch when Ruth threw her tablet  at me and hit me in the side. I asked her why she did that and told her that the tablet was broken. I went back to setting up the smartwatch and she threw the tablet at my side again. Ruth told me to leave and said she was calling the police because I hurt her.”

Bates reports that the alleged victim had injuries to both of his hands and a 12 inch red mark on his left side.

The officer reportedly asked Harper where her iPad was and she retrieved it from between the washer and the wall.

Bates reportedly arrested Harper at 12:51 p.m.

Harper was later transported to the Kay County Detention Center. She was released on $1,500 bond on Aug. 26 on the condition she have no contact with the alleged victim.