Aberdeen police have filed a felony assault charge against an 18-year-old Aberdeen man after an investigation into a June incident that left a woman with a broken jaw requiring surgery.
According to the Aberdeen Police Department, Frederick Ike Cooper, 18, was charged Aug. 19 with felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury.
The charge stems from an incident June 19, when officers responded to a residence in the area of Poplar Street and Peach Avenue for a reported assault.
Police said an adult female told officers she confronted Cooper about allegedly driving at a high rate of speed through the neighborhood. According to police, the confrontation became verbal before Cooper allegedly punched the woman in the face with a closed fist and fled the scene.
Officers reported the woman was bleeding from the mouth and had visible injuries following the alleged assault.
Police initially obtained a warrant charging Cooper with misdemeanor assault on a female. He was arrested June 23 and taken before a Moore County magistrate, where he received a $2,500 secured bond.
On July 13, police obtained an additional warrant charging Cooper with misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury. He was again arrested and received an additional $2,500 secured bond.
Aberdeen Police said further investigation and collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office revealed the extent of the woman’s injuries was more serious than initially known.
According to police, the woman’s mandible was broken and she underwent surgery that included the placement of a metal plate and screws to reset her jaw.
Based on the extent of those injuries, police filed the additional felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury charge against Cooper on Aug. 19.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
