A Ridge Spring man was jailed on multiple charges after injuring his wife by driving away while she was trying to get into his vehicle, according to the Aiken Department of Public Safety.
Russell Eric Wingard, 45, of Columbia Highway, was charged with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, possession of a controlled substance and a warrant for failure to pay child support. He was placed in the Aiken County detention center, where he remained Monday morning. The victim told officers a friend took her to the Farmers Market on Richland Avenue, where she and Wingard had arranged to meet because he was supposed to pick her up after work, according to an incident report. They waited there a while and Wingard never showed, so they left, reports said. Traveling up Park Avenue, they saw his vehicle near the Department of Social Services and pulled over near it, police said.
The victim got out of the vehicle and approached Wingard's vehicle, police said. He began to turn the vehicle around while she had the door open, causing her to fall to the ground. Witnesses said Wingard nearly struck the victim with the van while he was fleeing.
Officers located Wingard and spoke with him. He told them he and his wife were arguing about money, the report states. He confirmed her story but denied "knowing he caused her to fall."
While taking Wingard into custody, officers found a round yellow pill identified as acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride, police said.