Morganton Man Charged With Assaulting Victim With Baseball Bat

59-year-old Robert Keith Ross of Morganton was arrested Thursday (June 1) by Morganton Public Safety Officers. He’s charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

On Thursday at 7:45 a.m. Public Safety was dispatched to an address on Lenoir Road in reference to an assault with a baseball bat. Dispatch told officers that the offender, identified as Robert Keith Ross, had left the area in a white Chevrolet Astro van. Once on the scene, an officer found the victim at a camp site under the twin bridges on Highway 18 North.

The victim reported that he had been struck in the head with an aluminum bat by Robert Ross. Burke County EMS transported the victim to UNC Health Blue Ridge. It appeared that he had been struck in the head at least six times. The officer found the Astro van a few hours later at Roses parking lot in Morganton and conducted a vehicle stop on West Fleming Drive.

Ross was taken into custody following the traffic stop. According to the North Carolina Department Of Adult Correction Offender Public Information website, the suspect has a criminal history including multiple convictions in Burke County dating back to 1982. Ross has been convicted of charges including felony and misdemeanor larceny.

Following Thursday’s arrest, Ross was placed in the Burke County Jail under $50,000 secured bond. He remained in jail as of earlier today. A District Court appearance was scheduled today.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY